“WE HAVE TO MAKE NATURE OUR ALLY FOR DEVELOPMENT.” STRESSED PAKISTANI MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AT THE P4G SUMMIT

DNA

ISLAMABAD – The Second P4G Summit was held on the 30^th and 31^st of May, 2021 hosted by the Government of the Republic of Korea in its capital, Seoul. Government leaders and top officials from 46 countries including Pakistan and heads of 21 international organizations, along with representatives from business sector and civil society, took part in the conference.

 The P4G (Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030) is a global initiative aimed at facilitating public-private partnership to tackle climate change and achieve Sustainable Development Goals. This year due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, the Summit was held virtually and mustered international solidarity required to build back better and greener from the COVID-19 crisis and be a stepping stone for the success of the 2021 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

Minister for Climate Change and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Mr. Malik Amin Aslam participated in the leaders’ session of the Summit by delivering a video message. He showcased Pakistan’s Green Stimulus Package, a commitment to green growth through ‘Ten Billion Trees Plantation Initiative’, expansion of protected areas and ‘Recharge Pakistan’ project, which will provide up to 185,000 green jobs for youth. The Minister also mentioned that, focusing on the green growth, Pakistan has set up the Ecosystem Restoration Fund, launched its first green Eurobonds and consulted with other countries on a debt-for-nature swap.

The two-day Summit engaged world leaders in dialogues on Inclusive Green Recovery from COVID-19, Efforts of the International Community to Achieve Carbon-Neutrality by 2050 and the Efforts to Strengthen Climate Action and to Facilitate Public-Private Partnerships through Inclusive Green Recovery. At the end of the Summit, the leaders adopted the Seoul Declaration, calling for the engagement of governments, businesses and civil society as part of “collective solutions” to global climate change and to achieve green recovery for current and future generations.