Has Pakistan Signed the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement is a global effort to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This international treaty was adopted in December 2015 by 196 parties, including Pakistan. However, the process of signing and ratifying the agreement is a multi-step process, and Pakistan has taken some time to complete all the necessary steps.
Pakistan signed the Paris Agreement on 22 April 2016, just a few months after the agreement was adopted. This was a significant step forward for Pakistan, which has long been affected by climate change-related issues, such as droughts, floods, and extreme weather events.
However, signing the agreement is just the first step. After signing, countries need to ratify it to make it legally binding. To ratify the Paris Agreement, countries need to go through their own domestic legal procedures and submit their ratification instruments to the United Nations. Pakistan submitted its ratification instrument on 10 November 2016, making it one of the early adopters of the agreement.
Since then, Pakistan has been actively working to implement the Paris Agreement and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. In its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, Pakistan has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030, with the potential to increase this to 30% with external support.
Pakistan’s efforts under the Paris Agreement include improving its energy efficiency, promoting renewable energy, and enhancing forest and wildlife conservation. The country has also launched several initiatives, such as the Green Pakistan Programme and the Billion Tree Tsunami Project, to increase its forest cover and combat deforestation.
In conclusion, Pakistan signed and ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016, making it legally binding on the country. Since then, Pakistan has been actively working to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. As a global community, we must continue to support and encourage all countries to take action towards a more sustainable future.