Lahore: May 4,2023: Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee in collaboration with Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development, Labour Education Foundation, Crofter foundation and Tameer e Nau Women’s worker’s organization held a protest outside Lahore press club.
The protest was held to step up pressure on government to accelerate the shift toward clean, renewable energy. Protestors demanded rapid, just and equitable transition to 100% renewable energy in order to cope up with the effects of climate change. The protestors were raising placards and banners reading “Don’t Gas Asia” and “Don’t Gas Pakistan.”
Speaking on the occasion, the general secretary of Pakistan Kissan Rabita committee, Farooq Tariq said that “The recent floods in Pakistan point to the worst impacts of climate change on the country, yet, in recent times Pakistan has emerged as the 19th largest consumer of fossil gas in the world. It is the responsibility of government to fasten the transition towards renewable energy so that Pakistan copes up with climate change as well as the rising energy prices which are the result of imported fossil fuels.” Farooq added.
Asian People’s Movement’s country program head Zaighum Abbas said that “As much as we hold successive governments in Pakistan responsible for promoting the use of fossil fuels and neglecting to address climate change, we also hold the countries and corporations of Global North responsible for driving climate change in our region. Climate change is the result of big corporations which for the sake of endless profits have been pumping fossil fuels to the countries in global south, The trend of financing dirty energy projects must stop.” Mr Abbas added.
The protests are a part of Asia wide campaign started by Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development—A Manila based transnational organization that works for climate justice and renewable energy in Asia.
Speaking at a similar protest in Manila, Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) and Convenor of the Asian Energy Network said that “Billions of dollar’s worth of projects are underway to expand liquefied natural gas terminals, power plants and pipelines in Asia. We do not need these projects. They will create more problems, instead of solving the climate crisis and the energy crisis in the region because gas is as harmful as coal.