Karachi: British High Commissioner Dr Christian Turner has visited Karachi to launch the race to get 26 companies operating in Pakistan to commit to net zero emissions by 2050.
So far 12 companies in Pakistan are committed, including Yunus Textile Mills Ltd — the latest to make the commitment — after meeting the High Commissioner.
With one month to go until the COP 26 global climate change conference is hosted in the UK, the UK government is looking for more companies to take the leap. Globally, over 3,000 companies have signed up for the race.
The high commissioner’s visit was part of an environment and climate-focused trip to Pakistan’s biggest metropolis to see first-hand some of the challenges and some of the innovative solutions the country is offering as part of world action on climate change.
Dr Turner saw how British and Pakistani expertise has been coming together to harness the power of renewable energy at Zephyr Wind Farm at Gharo. He was accompanied by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam.
There he witnessed how British funds have helped create green energy investments and aided Pakistan in replacing coal power.
Dr Turner was also shown how Pakistan is using nature-based solutions to help repair the environment and protect livelihoods — through the regeneration of a mangrove forest near to the wind farm — which is globally accepted as cheaper and 50 times more cost-effective than concrete barriers when it comes to tidal flood protections.
Later, the high commissioner took part in litter picking — a personal passion of his — at Clifton Beach to mark World Maritime Day. Eight million tonnes of plastic end up every year in the world’s seas and is swallowed by or entangles marine animals, causing injuries and deaths and threatening the survival of certain species.
“Pakistan is tackling climate change and protecting the beauty of the natural world, which are two key areas which the UK-hosted COP 26 conference will be focusing on,” said Dr Turner.
“I’m encouraging 26 Pakistani firms to sign a commitment to make net zero emissions commitments in 2050 as part of COP 26. 12 are committed but we need more companies to come forward. Together we can do this,” he added.
Dr Turner met key business leaders from the “Top 6” UK firms in Pakistan — Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser, SCB, GSK, UBL and Shell — which contribute over 1% to Pakistan’s annual GDP, and rank among the biggest corporate taxpayers.
He also met media house owners where he discussed the importance of a free media for accountability in a well-functioning democracy and welcomed the Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners bill passed by the Sindh Assembly in May.
2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference
The UK is hosting the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP 26, in Glasgow, UK from October 31 till November 12, 2021.
It has four core goals for the COP 26 presidency which include:
Asking countries to come forward with ambitious 2030 emissions reduction targets that align with reaching net zero by the middle of the century to keep the 1.5 degree global warming target within reach;
Pushing further support for vulnerable countries to protect and restore ecosystems, build resilience and avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and lives;
Getting developed countries to deliver on their commitment to mobilise $100bn in climate finance per year. All countries need to act to redirect finance flows, including by mobilising trillions of dollars from the private sector;
And, collaborating across governments, businesses and civil society, to finalise the “Paris Rulebook” through the climate negotiations and make progress in energy emissions. AFP
