Eco-Journalism

Only sustainable tourism practices, eco-friendly facilities, proper waste management and continuous conservation awareness can save Pakistan’s picturesque Astore Valley from environmental degradation

With a tradition of reuse and recycling, Pakistan stands at a crossroads. Will its shift to a circular economy redefine sustainability and economic resilience for the future?

Women in Karachi’s katchi abadis remain outside discussion on climate change

Not having its own landfill site is only the tip of the waste management iceberg in Islamabad. More critical is the absence of policies and laws that are applicable nationally and can prevent backlog and spillover

The power of bottom-up community action supported by established development and government actors is clearly visible in the way Islamabad’s Farash Town has utilised its waste as a resource to drive systemic change. 

The year 2024 appears to be the worst on record for air pollution in Pakistan. Successive governments need to address the problem with long term planning before it goes out of control.

Through its successful mangrove-based carbon credit project in Sindh, Pakistan shows it can create opportunities for conservation of forest ecosystems for global climate benefits.

Pakistan’s largest city cries for immediate interventions to minimise the impacts of intense heatwaves that have turned it into a virtual pressure cooker, causing loss of lives and livelihoods. 

Pakistan played a crucial role in operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund which was announced on the very first day of the COP and played an active role during the two weeks long conference which saw some difficult negotiations

Most climate change experts agree that the success of COP28 in Dubai depends on the governments of the world taking major steps forward in the key areas of climate finance

As climate induced disasters damage educational infrastructures in Pakistan, the country struggles to bring millions of out of school children back to schools.

Pakistan generates over 49.6 million tonnes of solid wastes annually and witnesses a 2.4 per cent increase every year. The country has a great potential to produce power and carry out composting, which could go a long way in mitigating impacts of climate change. Effective policies, political will, concerted efforts and adequate investment could turn this dream of environment friendly power generation into a reality but this opportunity is not without challenges.

The mushrooming growth of housing societies on agricultural land in Pakistan endangers its food security.

Kabul river that emerges from Afghanistan’s mountains and empties into the Indus basin at Pakistan’s plain serves as a lifeline for 20 million inhabitants of both the countries by providing water for drinking, irrigation and livelihood. But increasing pollution due to dumping of untreated waste has turned this useful resource into a serious health hazard for its beneficiaries and aquatic species as well.

An ambitious project to convert cattle dung to fuel for buses may improve Karachi’s pathetic transport system, check heavy pollution and restore soil fertility.

There are more than 6,000 glaciers in northern Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). These are clean water reservoirs that actually irrigate Pakistan. But these glaciers are changing rapidly due to climate change. The ecosystem of these areas is changing. Global warming has accelerated their melting and more lakes have been formed as a result. Flooding due to the melting endangers lives and livelihoods of millions of local people and adversely affects the ecology. 

Climate change is a global issue, and its adverse effects are emerging in most countries worldwide. Many countries are taking steps to address these serious issues by introducing new climate-sensitive policies or through legislative changes. In contrast, poorer countries have not been able to do the same. Global warming and the rising sea surface temperature are having devastating effects on the local economy and the livelihood of the coastal communities in Balochistan.

Following the success of Billion Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP) in Khyber Paktunkhwa (KP) province, the Government of Pakistan launched its flagship initiative Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme (TBTTP) in 2018 across the country with a view to harnessing the rapidly depleting natural resources and wildlife habitats. Within few years, the ambitious environmental conservation policy has helped turn around many barren landscapes, improve soil fertility, protect environment and wildlife, and, importantly, create livelihood options for local communities. Obviously, the project is attracting global attention.