WASHINGTON, United States: Pakistan attended an international conference on climate held in Washington from September 15-16 to discuss problems and identify solutions to protect and conserve ocean and its resources.
Federal Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid led Pakistan’s delegation at the “Our Ocean” conference hosted by US State Department at Washington D.C.
Pakistan’s participation in the conference signifies that protection of environment and combating climate change is one of the key priorities of the current government.
President Barak Obama while addressing the plenary session of the conference designated the first marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean, protecting fragile deep-sea ecosystems off the coast of New England as the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.
The Secretary of State John F. Kerry also delivered the keynote address at the inaugural session which was attended by high-level delegations of more than 70 countries including three Heads of States.
It was the third conference in a row with an overarching objective to inspire and empower a new generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists and civil society to identify solutions and commit to actions to protect and conserve ocean and its resources.
The conference deliberated on issues related to marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution and climate-related impacts on the ocean.
Pakistan’s participation in the event would contribute towards being part of the international discourse with a view to joining and complementing international efforts in the area of increasingly important climate change.
On Thursday, the Minister for Climate Change also met with senior officials of the State Department including with US Special Envoy for Climate Change Jonathan Pershing. Both sides discussed bilateral cooperation in the area of climate change.
Source: APP
