ISLAMABAD: The government needs to establish vocational institutes in the country for imparting green skills to youth to combat climate change, WealthPK reports.
The new skills and innovative ways of development are prerequisites for post-carbon economy. Carbon neutrality has become a global agenda for all developing economies, in particular attaining a low carbon economy, since these economies are overwhelmingly fuel-dependent and Pakistan is no exception.
Dr Rehana Siddiqui, former head of the department of environmental economics at Pakistan Institute and Development Economics, said that the agriculture and industrial sectors were affected the most by climate change. She stressed the need of finding a way to reduce the effects of climate change.
However, she said that Pakistan has a large population of youth, who could mitigate the effects of climate change through innovation and creativity. “Pakistan is one of the countries that contribute very little to climate change, less than one percent,” she said, adding that it is one of the most affected countries.
According to the GermanWatch thinktank, Pakistan ranks eighth on the list of climate change-vulnerable countries and emits less than one percent of global greenhouse gases. “Using renewable energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels will help to minimise the effects of climate change,” said Dr Rehana.
The data of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows that Pakistan imported petroleum products of $23 billion in the previous fiscal as compared to $11 billion in the fiscal year 2020-21, registering an increase of 105 percent. The transport and power sector are major consumers and emitters of greenhouse gases.
Dr Rehana said that the impact of climate change on agriculture is linked to changes in weather patterns. The agriculture sector faces risk due to uncertainty in weather and monsoon patterns as a result of climate change.
The communities dependent on agriculture, livestock and fishing for their livelihoods are more vulnerable to climate change. “It is important to remember that the communities that are most affected by climate change have little awareness and information about the phenomenon,” she added.
Dr Rehana underscored the importance of skill development for communities to combat climate change. “Looking beyond what is trendy and assessing their economic needs and realities are imperative,” she added.
She said that in order to make the shift a success, the country needs to invest in enhancing skill sets focusing on the intersection between sustainability, circular economy and technology. “By switching to renewable energy sources, the pollution caused by burning fossil fuels (coal and petroleum) can be minimised,” she added.
Dr Rehana said that the emission of greenhouse gases because of global warming is not a deliberate act, but a consequence of industrialisation. “Green investment will also have a positive impact on the economy as more job opportunities will be created. The Billion Tree Tsunami Plantation Programme has increased green talent among workers,” she added.
She said that the government should establish vocational institutes for providing green skills to youth to mitigate the effects of climate change. “A way to combat climate change is to educate the youth, recycle waste materials, replace traditional concrete building materials and use fewer fossil fuels,” she told WealthPK.
-INP
