PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has approved the climate change policy for the province along with an action plan containing 129 climate mitigation and 172 adaptation measures for 10 sectors.

The action plan is to be carried out as priority and on short-, medium- and long-term basis as envisaged under the KP Climate Change Policy, 2022.

Officials told Dawn that a climate change policy was announced in 2017 but the need for a new policy was felt by the environment, forestry and wildlife department in the view of the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas with the province, glacial lake outburst floods as well as locust attacks in southern districts, and for the determination of new ecological zoning.

The documents revealed that the policy was focused on adaptation approach to the climate seeking to reduce vulnerability of natural and human systems or to capitalise on the anticipated changes in climate conditions, and secondly mitigation measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through technological and nature-based solutions.

CM also approves action plan with mitigation, adaptation steps

It also called for the streamlining of climate change mitigation measures in various sectors of economy and development to achieve sustainable development and resilience to natural disasters.

The policy said KP had witnessed longer summers and shorter and milder winters due to climate change, which impacted agricultural output.

It added that surface warming would increase the intensity of rainfall posing a flood risk in the province combined with the increased rates of glacier melting in northern parts of the province, which were dominated by glaciers and sub-humid forest.

The policy said the climate change had also resulted into precipitation changes, changes in food production, shifting weather pattern, glacial melting and loss of biodiversity.

It also analysed the existing situation of the impact of climate change on various thematic groups as well as strategies for translating national climate change policy into a provincial policy.

Regarding water situation, it said water stress would have a disproportionate impact on food security and agriculture in KP.

“As a result, a decline in water supplies might have a severe spillover effect not just in KP but also in adjacent provinces. These consequences will include forced relocation, economic losses, and diminished activity in agriculture, livestock, industry, and other domestic areas. Water resource management can improve agricultural land revenue and alleviate water scarcity difficulties in the province,” it said.

The policy said it had taken stock of the existing situation and future challenges in agriculture, livestock, forestry, wildlife and biodiversity, vulnerable ecosystems and other sectors.

The action plan outlined mitigation strategies and measures for agriculture, forestry, environment, wildlife, energy and transport sectors for incorporation in the National Climate Change Policy.

The documents showed that the action plan was categorised into priority actions to be carried out in two years, short-term in five years, medium-term in 10 years and long-term in 20 years.

According to them, the adaptation strategies included 31 for agriculture and livestock sector, 34 for forestry, eight for health, 32 for water, 11 for biodiversity, 18 for mountain and pastures, eight for poverty eradication, nine each for gender issues and youths affairs.

As for mitigation strategies, 11 are for energy efficiency, 24 for transport, 11 for waste management, 13 for industries, 10 for urban planning, nine for ‘carbon sequestration’, 15 for agriculture and livestock, 22 for capacity building, 11 for technology transfers and three for climate finance.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2022