PIDE’s Vision on Environmental Issues
Contextualizing PIDE’s Environmental Advocacy:
Environmental degradation in Pakistan demands immediate and coordinated action. The country is struggling with severe environmental challenges reflected in international rankings, with its dismal standing of 179 out of 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index 2024. Urban smog has become a critical health issue, with five of Pakistan’s major cities ranking among the top 20 globally for poor air quality. Reasons behind this are the highly emissions-intensive energy sector, reduced tree cover especially in urban centers, rapid and unplanned urbanization, and shrinking forest area. Although Pakistan’s contribution to total global emissions remains below 1 percent, the country’s overall emissions and per capita figures have been on a consistent upward trajectory since 1998. Along with this rising temperatures and worsening climate conditions are intensifying the threat of climate change, particularly for vulnerable communities. These mounting environmental risks underscore the urgent need for comprehensive policies to mitigate these challenges and build resilience against future impacts.
As a premier national think tank, the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has been at the forefront of advocating for a sustainable environmental future for a long time through a series of webinars, reports, knowledge briefs, articles, and policy papers. PIDE has sought to provide practical solutions to issues such as air pollution, deforestation, climate change, and energy sector emissions, ensuring a balanced approach to sustainable development. This document aims to summarize PIDE’s comprehensive narrative on environmental issues over the past five years only, drawing on its extensive research and expert discussions. It will focus on the key insights and policy recommendations offered by PIDE to mitigate the country’s environmental degradation.
Air Pollution and Sustainability:
Over the past five years, one of the most extensively researched topics has been the worsening air quality, particularly the phenomenon of smog. Researchers have approached this issue from multiple perspectives. For instance, studies have explored the causes of smog, identifying factors such as industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and, notably, the burning of crop residue by farmers. The role of farmers in contributing to smog, especially through stubble burning after harvests, has been a critical focus area. Additionally, the complexities of transboundary smog, and air pollution that crosses borders have been examined, highlighting the challenges of addressing smog on a regional scale due to differing regulations and cooperation between neighboring countries. The COVID-19 pandemic also provided an opportunity for researchers to explore its unintended effects on air quality, as the global lockdowns temporarily reduced industrial activity and transportation, offering insights into possible long-term solutions.
“Smog: The Fifth Season in Pakistan” by Naz and Abedullah (2022), highlights the growing issue of smog in Pakistan, particularly in Lahore, which has become a persistent environmental problem over the past few winters. Smog reduces visibility, disrupts daily activities, increases accidents, and can lead to flight cancellations. Air pollution, of which smog is a major component, is responsible for millions of deaths worldwide, with Pakistan suffering from high exposure levels, particularly in its urban centers. The authors underscore the need for coordinated efforts to mitigate smog and improve air quality in Pakistan, emphasizing stricter environmental regulations and public awareness. The government has initiated several measures to combat smog, including plans to import Euro5 fuel, transitioning industries to cleaner technologies, and promoting electric vehicles. Smog control rooms have also been established for monitoring air quality, particularly in Lahore. To effectively reduce smog, efforts should focus on investing in energy-efficient power generation, improving waste management, minimizing agricultural waste burning, and enhancing public transportation systems. Technical measures, such as using hydrogen fuel additives and smog-free towers, are also suggested.[1]
Rose and Ali (2023) examined the ongoing debate about smog in Punjab, emphasizing that the burning of rice crop residue frequently places disproportionate blame on farmers. Policymakers and urban residents, highlight this practice as the primary cause, despite evidence pointing otherwise. According to two key studies, crop residue burning contributes a much smaller portion to smog than the transport sector, which is the leading emitter. Despite the common misconception that smog only occurs during the rice harvest, particulate matter persists year-round. Farmers often resort to burning due to economic pressures, including distorted input and output markets. The rising costs of fertilizers and black-market practices, combined with lower crop prices, force farmers to seek quick and cost-effective land clearance methods. This practice, while cost-efficient for farmers, has broader environmental and health consequences. The solution to crop residue burning requires a multidimensional approach that includes policy reforms, financial incentives, and technological support. Government plans to provide machines like happy seeders have been insufficiently implemented. More comprehensive solutions could include increasing access to shredding machines, using crop residues for renewable energy, and fostering public-private partnerships. Monitoring systems are essential for evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions and guiding future policy refinements.[2]&[3]
Rose (2024) discusses the challenges of air pollution, particularly the smog with a focus on the transboundary nature of the problem, largely influenced by emissions from neighboring India. India’s crop burning in Punjab and Haryana contributes significantly to the smog in Pakistan, particularly in Lahore. Despite efforts, Pakistan’s isolated measures have had limited success, highlighting the need for regional collaboration. The author also emphasizes the importance of diplomatic efforts to address these environmental challenges, noting Pakistan’s advocacy for regional collaboration at international forums like COP-26. However, political tensions between India and Pakistan, compounded by economic disparities, have hindered meaningful cooperation. Drawing on international environmental law, such as the ‘Trail Smelter Case’ and the 1992 Rio Earth Summit principles, the author argues for a shared responsibility in reducing emissions. It calls for a regional framework and improved monitoring and pollution control technology. The ‘Male Declaration’ of 1998, which called for regional cooperation on transboundary pollution, is critiqued for its ineffective implementation. This article suggests reviving such frameworks with the support of regional bodies like SAARC and international organizations like ICIMOD to achieve more effective cooperation and mitigation. The author calls for urgent, collective action in South Asia to reduce air pollution, proposing joint monitoring systems, harmonized regulations, and technology investments.[4]
[1] https://pide.org.pk/research/smog-the-fifth-season-in-pakistan/
[2] https://pide.org.pk/research/farmers-not-the-principal-culprits/
[3] https://pide.org.pk/research/farmers-are-not-the-main-culprits-of-smog/
[4] https://pide.org.pk/research/threats-across-the-borders-tackling-transboundary-environmental-injustice/
