Cleaner Energy

Author: Muhammad Waqar Khan

Cleaner Energy

                                                

                                                 Cleaner Energy

                                                   Editorial April 25, 2021

PAKISTAN is committed to the world that it will drastically reduce its dependency on fossil fuels by switching to cleaner products, sources of energy, and promoting electric vehicles. The SAPM on climate change assured the international community during a virtual conference organized in the USA that the country will change to 60pc clean energy and convert 30 percent of its total electric vehicle fleet by 2030. 

It is a difficult task given that renewable sources, except hydroelectric energy, constitute only a fraction of the overall energy mix, and issues like infrastructure impediments, greater upfront costs, and range anxiety will likely prevent consumers from changing to electric vehicles for many years. 

Furthermore, the government has not yet fully aligned its climate change goals with its power and automotive strategies, even though it has separately elaborated EV and alternative energy policies.  For example, the long-term plan was drawn up last year, but the NTDC ignored the renewable energy option in favor of dirty fossil fuels, regardless of accounting for the cost of their impact on the environment. Also, some ministers seem reluctant to encourage the cheaper, environmentally friendly hybrid technology as a way to encourage a green shift in electrical technology.

The shift to cleaner fuels is crucial to slow climate change, which affects food security throughout the globe. But that is not enough. Countries like Pakistan, which are affected the most because of the changing weather, need to go beyond measures designed to curb and reduce environmental degradation and promote policies aimed at reversing the damage already done. One of those measures would include helping farmers switch to modern watering and seed technologies to conserve exhausted water resources for the future. 

Unless the government formulates a general policy covering all sectors of the economy and all segments of the population, it will not be able to win the climate war. 

The execution of different sliced policies will not work or produce the desired results. Making big promises at the conference, the government has already fired the starter gun. The ambitious goals explained at the conference will have no hope of being fulfilled without a comprehensive effort. No doubt that developing countries are also looking at the main economies responsible for global warming for financial assistance to deal with the trouble. But they can't stay still waiting for the promised help to arrive. It is time for you to join the race.

Sources & Editorial Note: This article has been compiled using publicly available information from reputable news organizations, official government releases, and verified institutional sources. Information is reviewed before publication and updated whenever significant developments occur to maintain accuracy and reliability.

References

• Reuters
• Associated Press (AP News)
• BBC News
• Topic-specific official government or institutional source

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