UN under Secretary General on Climate Change Janos Pasztor says developing countries like Pakistan need technology and finances to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change.

Taking part in “Perspective” program of News and Current Affairs Channel live from New York, he said every country has responsibility to reduce its carbon footprint, but the convention of climate change assigns common and differentiated responsibility i.e. some countries have more responsibilities and capacities and they need to help others who don’t have. Initially, the developed countries only had to take responsibility, but now it is also the responsibility of developing countries as well.

Janos Pasztor said over one hundred and sixty countries have submitted their national action plans on climate change and they have taken elaborate steps to reduce carbon emissions.

UN under Secretary General on Climate Change said a climate finance package to support developing countries like Pakistan will help them fight adverse impacts of climatic changes.

Speaking in program, Secretary Ministry of Climate Change Arif Ahmad Khan said Pakistan being a vulnerable country is actively pursuing policies to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change and reduce the carbon emissions. Pakistan, he said, faced devastating floods of 2010, melting of glaciers in Northern Areas, and erratic rainfalls during the last two years.

Arif Ahmad Khan said in shorter term Pakistan is focusing on increased use of renewable energy, in medium term tackling issues relating to water and food security and in the longer term to make our infrastructure and industry more climate friendly.

On a question regarding ban on plastic bags, the Secretary Ministry of Climate Change said serious efforts are being made in this regard and provincial governments need to be made active to comprehensively ensure the ban.

Parliamentarian Maryam Aurangzeb while speaking in program said public private partnership is essential in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change. She said the Ministry of Climate Change has set up a think tank in which members from private sector especially share their lessons learned, and make inputs. However, she was of the view that such collaborations need to be increased.