Islamabad, October 12, 2022 (PPI-OT):Senator Farooq Hamid Naek called for collective efforts to tackle the threat of Climate Change and major debt relief to the counties in need to allow them the fiscal space for the achievement of SDG #13.
Addressing a side-line meeting of the Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States (PIUC) at the 145 IPU Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda, Senator Farooq Hamid Naek has stressed the need for combined steps and collective wisdom to counter the threat of Global Warming. He underlined that the Havoc caused by devastating floods in Pakistan is a “wake-up call” for the world to gear up their contributions towards minimizing the adverse impacts of climate change.
“Pakistan contributes less than 1% of the global greenhouse gases that warm our planet but its geography makes it extremely vulnerable to climate change. Due to which sense of injustice is keenly felt in the country”, he stated.
He thanked the Chair of the meeting as well as the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States (PUIC) for allowing the opportunity to present the emergency item proposed by the Parliament of Pakistan for inclusion in the agenda of the 145 IPU Assembly.
Farooq Naek applauded the OIC Member States for extending unflinching support to Pakistan in its difficult times. “The government, parliament and people of Pakistan thank the governments of the OIC Member States for their strong expression of solidarity and continued support towards the relief activities in the flood-hit areas of Pakistan”, he remarked.
In the backdrop of the recent flood, the Parliament of Pakistan has proposed an emergency item for inclusion in the agenda of the 145th IPU Assembly taking place in Rwanda next week. He called for the support of the entire PUIC fraternity towards the emergency item proposed at the 145 IPU Assembly.
“The resolution titled “Creating a Global Fund/Financing facility for climate Vulnerable Countries to Address Loss and Damage Associated with Climate Change” not only highlights the sufferings of Pakistan due to the devastating floods but also calls upon the international community to achieve not only “net zero”, but “net minus”‘ carbon emission by 2050”, he noted.
While addressing the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) coordinating Meeting on the Sidelines of the 145th IPU Assembly, Senator Naek called for the creation of a “global fund/financing facility” for climate-vulnerable countries to address damages and losses associated with Climate Change.
While acquitting the participants with the catastrophe caused by the recent flood in Pakistan, Senator Farooq Hamid Naek urged all the APA Member Parliaments to support the emergency item proposed by Pakistan to help us in rehabilitating and rebuilding our material losses, adding that the recent pandemics and climate change have been an eye opener that no nation can survive on its own.
He stressed that the international community should also take cognizance of the limited resources available to many developing states that are facing climate change disasters, especially without contributing much in terms of CO2. It is high time that major debt relief should be provided to counties in need to allow them the fiscal space for the achievement of SDG #13.
“Parliaments are also responsible towards economic development of people, especially in relation to the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate change, requiring effective, accountable, and transparent institutions”, he noted. Naek said that according to the report of the Global Climate Risk Index 2021, Pakistan is among the ten countries most affected by extreme weather events despite its very low carbon footprint.
He underlined that the total damages due to the recent flood in Pakistan are estimated at over $30 billion, almost 10% of Pakistan’s GDP. National efforts are underway to support people affected by the ongoing rains and floods, but international solidarity is crucial to adequately address the impacts, he stressed. He congratulated APA member states for their commendable efforts to facilitate parliamentary diplomacy and to empower parliamentarians and parliaments to promote peace, sustainable development, prosperity and democracy in Asia.
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