ADAPTATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES IN PAKISTAN Pakistan’s romancing of climate change action spans over two decades from the first time it ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) back in 1994 and became an official partner in the international commitment to bring down green house gas (GHG) emissions in the atmosphere. From subsequent endorsements of the goals of Kyoto Protocol 1997 and Paris Agreement 2015 to passing a National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) in 2012, followed by a Framework for Implementation of Climate Change Policy (2014-2030) and most recently, the Climate Change Act of 2017, which after a long wait provided the regulatory framework for Pakistan’s climate change strategy, this confused relationship continued to develop sluggishly. However, during the same period, the implications of climate change for Pakistan changed drastically; from being a tiny voluntary partner in the developed world’s wake-up to rectify its collective damage to the atmosphere, we are known today as the world’s 7th most impacted country by climate change. The tragedy is that despite all of these developments, Pakistan’s climate change strategy remains elusive and without any direction. Kyoto Protocol: In 1997 Kyoto protocol was adopted at the third session of Conference of the parties of UNFCC in Kyoto, Japan. This protocol restricts the industrialized countries and those in transition to a market economy agreed to limit or reduce their emissions. In Pakistan the government is also taking steps to reduce the pollution. Now if we talk about Pakistan, it is basically a developing country with very low Greenhouse gases emissions ratio of 0.3% to 0.4% compared to other countries and hence there is no strict binding on Pakistan to reduce its Greenhouse gases emissions but still the government is pursuing an agenda to reduce emissions for the benefit of its own people. Pakistan has specified preferences including: o alternative and renewable energy o energy efficiency o fossil fuel co-generation (co-generation is the use of waste heat from thermal electricity generation plants o Land use, land use change, and forestry, e.g., biodiversity protection o waste management, e.g., reducing GHG emissions from latrines and animal waste The Kyoto Protocol, while well intentioned, would appear to be doomed to failing its objective seven before the 2008-2012 averaging period commences. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are rising at a frightening rate with no sign of slowing. Global temperatures are continuing to rise. Paris Agreement: The Paris Agreement (2015) central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Pakistan has ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate Change at a ceremony held at United Nat

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ADAPTATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES IN PAKISTAN
Pakistan’s romancing of climate change action spans over two decades from the first time it ratified
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) back in 1994 and
became an official partner in the international commitment to bring down green house gas (GHG)
emissions in the atmosphere. From subsequent endorsements of the goals of Kyoto
Protocol 1997 and Paris Agreement 2015 to passing a National Climate Change Policy
(NCCP) in 2012, followed by a Framework for Implementation of Climate Change Policy
(2014-2030) and most recently, the Climate Change Act of 2017, which after a long wait
provided the regulatory framework for Pakistan’s climate change strategy, this confused
relationship continued to develop sluggishly. However, during the same period, the implications
of climate change for Pakistan changed drastically; from being a tiny voluntary partner in the
developed world’s wake-up to rectify its collective damage to the atmosphere, we are known today
as the world’s 7th
most impacted country by climate change. The tragedy is that despite all of these
developments, Pakistan’s climate change strategy remains elusive and without any direction.
Kyoto Protocol:
In 1997 Kyoto protocol was adopted at the third session of Conference of the parties of UNFCC
in Kyoto, Japan. This protocol restricts the industrialized countries and those in transition to a
market economy agreed to limit or reduce their emissions. In Pakistan the government is also
taking steps to reduce the pollution. Now if we talk about Pakistan, it is basically a developing
country with very low Greenhouse gases emissions ratio of 0.3% to 0.4% compared to other
countries and hence there is no strict binding on Pakistan to reduce its Greenhouse gases emissions
but still the government is pursuing an agenda to reduce emissions for the benefit of its own people.
Pakistan has specified preferences including:
o alternative and renewable energy
o energy efficiency
o fossil fuel co-generation (co-generation is the use of waste heat from thermal electricity
generation plants
o Land use, land use change, and forestry, e.g., biodiversity protection
o waste management, e.g., reducing GHG emissions from latrines and animal waste
The Kyoto Protocol, while well intentioned, would appear to be doomed to failing its objective
seven before the 2008-2012 averaging period commences. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere
are rising at a frightening rate with no sign of slowing. Global temperatures are continuing to rise.
Paris Agreement:
The Paris Agreement (2015) central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate
change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-
industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees
Celsius. Pakistan has ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate Change at a ceremony held at United
Nations Headquarters in New York, becoming the 104th country in the world to ratify the landmark
deal.

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National Climate Change Policy (NCCP):
(Government Of Pakistan Ministry Of Climate Change Islamabad, Pakistan September 2012)
The National Climate Change Policy provides a framework for addressing the issues that Pakistan
faces or will face in future due to the changing climate. The policy thus provides a comprehensive
framework for the development of Action Plans for national efforts on adaptation and mitigation.
In view of Pakistan’s high vulnerability to the adverse impacts of climate change, in particular
extreme events, adaptation effort is the focus of this policy document. The vulnerabilities of
various sectors to climate change have been highlighted and appropriate adaptation measures
spelled out. These cover policy measures to address issues in various sectors such as water,
agriculture, forestry, coastal areas, biodiversity and other vulnerable ecosystems.
Furthermore, appropriate measures relating to disaster preparedness, capacity building,
institutional strengthening; technology transfer; introduction of the climate change issue in higher
education curricula; ensuring environmental compliance through Initial Environmental
Examinations (IEE) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) in the development process;
addressing the issue of deforestation and illegal trade in timber; promoting Clean Development
Mechanisms (CDM); and raising Pakistan’s stance regarding climate change at various
international forums, have also been incorporated as important components of the policy.
Policy Implementation Mechanism:
Following approval of the National Climate Change Policy, the Federal Government shall develop
an “Action Plan” for its implementation. All relevant ministries, departments and agencies shall
also devise plans and programs to implement the policy provisions relating to their respective
sectors/sub-sectors. Similarly, the provincial governments, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan, Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and local governments shall also devise their own strategies,
plans and programs for implementation of the Policy. To ensure effective Policy and Action Plans
implementation and to oversee progress in this regard, “Climate Change Policy Implementation
Committees” shall be established at the federal and provincial levels. One of the tasks of these
committees shall be regular monitoring and upgrading of the National Climate Change Policy at
five-year intervals.
Pakistan Climate Change Act:
The Pakistan Climate Change Act establishes the Pakistan Climate Change Council, headed by
the Prime Minister, and consists of
o The Ministers in charge of climate change, finance, agriculture, food security and research,
planning, development and reform, petroleum and natural resources, science and
technology, water and power and foreign affairs
 Chief Ministers of the Provinces
 Ministers-in-charge of the department allocated with subject of environment in the
provinces

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REFRENCES:
1. Ayda Hassan, November 19, 2018, Climate Change Legislation In Pakistan – A Road To
Nowhere, http://courtingthelaw.com/2018/11/19/commentary/climate-change-legislation-
in-pakistan-a-road-to-nowhere/
2. Hadeed Ahmed Sher, Sajid Iqbal and Dr. Suhail Aftab Qureshi, Kyoto
Protocol and its Implementation in Pakistan; Hurdles and Expectations, (13
March 2014).
3. Kyoto Protocol And Its Implementations In Pakistan
United Nation Climate Change (22 October 2018), The Paris Agreement,
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-
agreement
4. Government Of Pakistan Ministry Of Climate Change Islamabad, Pakistan
(September 2012), National Climate Change Policy
5. Pakistan Climate Change Act 2017,
www.lse.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/law/pakistan-climate-change-act-2016/
6. Pakistan Population 2019, http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/pakistan-
population/
7. Discounting and Time Preference, http://www.sfu.ca/~heaps/483/discounting.htm