The year 2021 has been a roller coaster for the government due to Covid-19. However, climate change and environment protection too have remained a challenge for the government. Let us first focus on some positives.

The first positive is the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Project (TBTTP) that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf announced as soon as it formed the government in 2018. The objective of the project is to increase the forest cover by increasing the number of fruit trees, including olives. The plantation of kao, phulai, ber, kikar and other bee flora is being encouraged under the TBTTP for the production of honey.

The second positive is the Protected Area Initiative (PAI) launched in June 2020. The key objectives are conservation of the wild habitat and an increase in ecotourism. A total of 14,939.6 square kilometres of land has been declared “protected”. This includes 15 national parks, nine water bodies, four nature reserves, three game reserves, a wildlife reserve, 19 community-controlled hunting areas and a marine protected area. Under the PAI, the protected area is being expanded by one percent (to 13 percent; the government aims to increase this to 15 percent by 2023). The pilot study areas under this initiative are Bakhar, Mianwali, Chakwal, Jhelum and Attock.

The third notable step is the Recharge Pakistan Programme launched in December 2020 in partnership with the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) under the Ministry of Water Resources and the WWF-Pakistan. The programme envisions that by 2050, the ecosystem-based adaptation will contribute towards better climate resilience, water and food security and sustainable livelihoods. More than 10 million people, will directly benefit from the programme and 20 million people across 50 vulnerable districts will be among indirect beneficiaries.

The hosting of World Environment Day 2021, Reimagine, Recreate and Restore, and launch of the decade on ecosystem restoration in Pakistan, which is United Nation’s global mission to revive billions of hectares, from forests to farmlands, from the top of mountains to the depth of the sea, is noteworthy.

Under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Pakistan has committed itself to reducing 50 percent emissions by 2030 (15 percent unconditional and 35 percent conditional). It also includes mitigation targets, like phasing down of coal use and shifting to renewable energy resource up to 60 percent by the year 2030 besides aiming to not use imported coal.

Another high priority area identified this year was to have 30 percent electric vehicles by 2030. On the adaptation side, it includes projects like the Indus-Basin Flood Risk Mitigation and enhanced water recharge. The government has also added additional sectors in the NDC like gases (HFC - hydrofluorocarbons and nitric acid) and short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP), not covered in the previous NDC (of 2016).

The government also failed to deliver on air pollution. Each year, there is the issue of smog. The air quality index in most of the cities is unhealthy or hazardous during most of the year.

The government claims that due to its pro-environmental actions emissions declined by 8.7 percent between the years 2016 and 2018. The reductions are attributed to TBTTP that sequestered 8.4 MtCO2eq along with an increased contribution of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

There were challenges as well. The first challenge was Covid-19. The focus of the government shifted away from environment protection. Its regulation of the ban on single-use plastic bags remained ineffective. Plastic bags returned to the markets of Islamabad and the situation has not changed.

The government also failed to deliver on air pollution. Each year, there is the issue of smog. The air quality index in most cities is unhealthy or hazardous for most of the year. The government has failed to provide data to citizens in this regard. The relevant agencies do not have appropriate number of air quality monitors. There are issues with the private data providers as well.

Recently, the government of the Punjab has started uploading data on its website. It covers four points (three in Lahore and one in Rawalpindi). Such a low number of monitors cannot provide representative data. Also, there is a short-term focus to address this issue. The government imposed fines on farmers for stubble burning and on brick kilns and ignored the fact that major contributors to smoke emissions include transport, industry and burning of waste.

The management of hospitals and industrial waste is still not a priority for the government. This sector can generate revenue and has a lot of potential to bring investment but is not on the government’s agenda. According to the International Trade Administration, Pakistan generates about 48.5 million tonnes of solid waste annually.

The waste causes the water channels to block during the monsoon season and leads to urban flooding. There is no specific dumping site and no mechanism for sorting, transportation and dumping of waste. Waste is burned openly, and harmful emissions from it contribute to poor air quality. This year, Covid-related waste was another challenge.

Another threat Pakistan is facing is electronic waste. According to a study by the World Health Organisation, Pakistan produced 433 kilo tonnes of e-waste in the year 2020 alone. Another study estimates that 50 kilo tonnes of e-waste is being imported as scrap to Pakistan every year. Karachi and Lahore have major dismantle sites where children are exposed to health hazards while dealing with the scrap.

There is no e-waste regulation policy in Pakistan. E-waste is a serious health threat to children, adolescents and expectant mothers.

Another issue is the non-seriousness and inactive role of the provincial governments. After the 18^th Amendment, environment protection is a provincial subject. Sindh has taken the lead in this regard but other provincial governments are not playing their role effectively.

The Punjab has still to legislate its environment policy. The government of the Punjab has failed to deal with the issue of smog. Short-term measures, like formation of anti-smog squads, were taken for a month and failed to solve the problem. The government has now selected a new formula to calculate the air quality index.

Year 2022 should see provincial governments have an effective role. There is a need to prioritise waste management. Small and medium enterprises can play a major role in this regard. Also, the private sector should be tapped to combat climate change and achieve the national climate change targets. For shifting to renewables as proposed, Pakistan requires more than $100 million in climate finance support from developed countries.

The government needs to increase the number of air quality monitors across Pakistan and regularly provide the data to the citizens. The relevant policy makers need to be sensitised to climate change issues. The civil society can play an important role in this regard.

The writer is an environmental expert at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. She tweets at @S_Maryam8.