LAHORE: September 22,2022: Pakistan Kissan Rabita committee on Thursday held a protest at Charing Cross here, demanding end to the Chinese funding of Fossil fuels in Pakistan.
More than 50 people joined the protest that was organized on the one year anniversary of China’s pledge to stop fossil funding abroad.
Climate campaigners held a rally at Charing cross, outside Punjab Assembly in Lahore, today on the first year anniversary of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s policy announcement that China would no longer build new coal-fired power projects abroad. They called on China to “fully act on this pledge and showcase China’s renewable energy leadership by converting those planned but yet to be constructed, coal power projects to renewable energy.”
China has been under heavy diplomatic pressure in recent years to end its overseas coal financing overseas. XI used his address at the 2021 United Nations General Assembly to make the policy announcement, adding to pledges to deal with climate change.
A number of organizations and movements in Asia have also signed on an open letter to Xi to remind him of the urgency of his climate pledge and underscore how China could take on a much stronger leadership and role in the rapid, equitable and just energy transition in the Global South.
Farooq Tariq, the general secretary of Pakistan Kissan Rabita committee said that “Pakistan is the biggest recipient of China’s dirty energy funding even after the announncement of President Xi Jinping to stop overseas fossil funding projects. The effects of dirty energy projects are already visible as the country grapples from worst effects of Climate Change.” Farooq added that Pakistan needs to be serious in dealing with these dirty energy projects and must negotiate with China to change them renewable and sustainable projects.
Lidy Nacpil, the coordinator of Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development, under whose call protest was organized in Lahore, said that: “We strongly urge China to end all forms of support and involvement of its institutions in all coal projects overseas, shift its public and commercial overseas energy financing to renewable energy for Southern countries, and stop building its domestic coal energy system as well. We reiterate the urgency of these actions to combat climate change and address its impacts that are devastating many countries now and endangering the future of life on the planet.”
