KARACHI: Highlighting concern over the extreme weather events the country has been experiencing over the past few years, speakers at a meeting held on Thursday underscored the need for innovate tech solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Developing countries like Pakistan, they said, were bearing the brunt of climate change, though their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions was insignificant, if compared with the damage being caused by industrialised countries.

They were participating in the ‘Green office network meeting’ organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) at a local hotel.

The aim of the event was to share information on eco-innovation in products and technologies with the corporate sector, create awareness of sustainable consumption of resources and discuss options available to reduce impact on environment through reusing, recycling products and making use of renewable energy sources.

Speaking on the occasion, director general of WWF-P Hammad Naqi Khan said that the term eco-innovation called for attention towards positive contribution that industry could make for sustainable development and a competitive economy.

In the current economic crisis, he said, several countries had started developing green policies and investing in environmental technologies and eco-friendly projects.

“Attention is being paid to innovation as a way for industry and policymakers to work towards more radical and systemic improvements in environmental performance.”

A new vision and policy, he pointed out, was required that would enable the creation of business and job opportunities that go hand in hand with environmental sensitivities.

“Eco-innovation represents an opportunity for companies to save costs and expand to new markets. Implementation of such resource-saving measures at the company level can contribute to greater structural shifts towards sustainability,” Mr Khan said.

He also lauded the efforts of organisations providing innovative solutions, contributing towards reduction in the impact of climate change.

Director general at the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) Naeem Mughal said it was high time to promote green growth and sustainable development in Pakistan.

“Unfortunately, there is no planning to take advantage of different types of waste which can be utilised as a good resource of energy, as being done in other countries,” he said.

He underscored the need for promoting renewable energy resources, for instance wind and solar energy options, in the country in order to reduce pressure on conventional energy resources.

Deputy director (technical) at Sepa Imran Sabir spoke about the environmental hazard posed by plastics, a non-biodegradable material.

“The use of plastic has increased in our society mainly because of its durability and characteristic to be inexpensive and easy-to-use. But, on the other hand, its hazards are numerous as it does not breakdown naturally,” he said, emphasising the need for proper waste management.

The main source of marine plastic waste, he said, included mixing of waste and their unregulated discharge into the sea, tourism related litter, illegal polymer waste dumping, commercial fishing nets and ship-breaking.

Elaborating further, he said most commercial plastics had thermal stabilisers, unreacted monomers, ultra-violet stabilisers, plasticisers, flame retardants, reinforcing additives and colourants, which leached out into the environmental.

“These additives are known to have a negative effect on human and animal health. Human exposure to these chemicals releasing monomer upon burning may cause cancer, brain and liver diseases, birth defects, pregnancy complications, diabetes and metal poisoning,” he added.

Sessions on environment-friendly products and technologies were also held during which Nazifa Butt of the WWF-P told the audience that presently there were 59 ‘green offices’ in Pakistan.

“These offices are working with the WWF-P to reduce their footprint and have reduced 1833 metric tonnes of carbon emissions in 2015-2016,” she said.

Ali Habib and Jawad Khan representing Himaverte and Tetra Pak respectively spoke about recycling waste paper.

The Award for Eco-innovation was given to Archroma Pakistan Limited, Engro Fertilizers and Corporation Limited and Sapphire Finishing Mills Limited for taking outstanding steps towards environmental sustainability.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2016