A consultative meeting on leveraging Just Energy Transition was recently organized by the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives in collaboration with the Parliamentary Development Unit Punjab.
The event brought together key stakeholders from the Punjab Assembly to discuss the province’s role in combating climate change. The meeting focused on advancing the ‘Just Energy Transition’, while also introducing the upcoming Green Zameen Fellowship, which promotes local green initiatives.
The discussion opened with an overview of global climate challenges and their impact on Pakistan. A portion of the meeting was reserved to discuss the need for adopting electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This particular topic was also important because Pakistan has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions as part of its Nationally Determined Contributions for 2030.
According to the organizers, the promotion of Electric vehicles is seen as a critical component of achieving these targets. The meeting also covered the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market, an emerging model designed to modernize Pakistan’s energy sector by supporting the industrial revolution through cleaner energy sources.
The introduction of the model aligns with efforts to shift away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. About fifteen members of the Punjab Assembly (MPAs) attended the session, including Amina Sheikh, Mehwish Sultan, and Usama Leghari.
The lawmakers expressed their support for climate action and were keen to collaborate with the Center for Peace and Development Initiatives to push for sustainable development in Punjab. They discussed provincial-level actions to complement federal climate commitments. The Green Zameen Fellowship was particularly highlighted, as it seeks to build a new generation of leaders and innovators who will support and defend green policies and practices across the country.
The consultative meeting also discussed the need to improve infrastructure to accommodate clean energy technologies, especially in the transportation sector and industries. These actions align with global efforts to achieve a balanced transition toward renewable energy. While discussing the model, it was revealed that industrial stakeholders would also benefit from this new system, which is expected to promote investments in cleaner energy production.
The participants left the meeting with a clear understanding of the importance of collaboration at the provincial level to address climate challenges. On the other hand, the Parliamentary Development Unit also endorsed the Green Zameen Fellowship program and expressed its interest in expanding such engagements in the future.
The participants agreed that the province must take bold steps to ensure a greener future and play their role in the overall climate action efforts.