The Threat of Climate Change to Pakistan's Economy

Although its carbon footprint is amongst the lowest in the world, the threat of climate change looms large for the country, with the potential to derail its economy. Coming as it does in the wake of several battles that the government is facing on the political-economy front, this news comes as a grim reminder to planners that serious, concerted and consistent effort is required to ensure that mitigation strategies are in place for the risks at hand.

The fact that this warning came from no one less than Dr. Pachauri, the Nobel laureate Chair of the IPCC, testifies to the credibility of the claims. Speaking at a recent conference on Climate Change organised in Islamabad by the Government of Pakistan, IUCN and DFID, Dr. Pachauri outlined the link between environmental sustainability and economic growth, pointing out the stress on public resources that changes in climate change can put, especially in areas such as public health. The Prime Minister was the chief guest at the conference and expressed governmental commitment to the cause, but I've always been wary of the ability of the planners to both accord due seriousness to environmental sustainability and to grasp the link between it, economic growth and public health issues. The UNDP Pakistan estimates that environmental degradation and neglect cost Pakistan Rs. 365 billion, although there are some encouraging signs, including the fact that Pakistan has been an advocate of looking to CNG as an alternative fuel to petrol and is in fact the largest consumer of CNG in Asia (see my earlier post related to this) and the UNDP believes that it is likely to meet the MDG targets for environment. But one is forced to think that when the problem is of the magnitude and depth that it is, much more than simply declaring 2009 as the 'National Year of the Environment' is required by the Government.

And importantly, the role of the private sector needs to be defined in addressing issues of sustainability, not only in their immediate spheres as business and corporate entities by employing more environment-friendly, efficient and cleaner technologies that meet regional and international standards, but also in terms of working with the government and communities, because the environment is everyone's business.

Pakistan's Hashoo Foundation Wins the World Challenge 2008

Back after a long hiatus, and with interesting news too: The Hashoo Foundation's Plan Bee project has won the 2008 World Challenge. The World Challenge competition, which is organised by the BBC, Newsweek and Shell, aims to recognise social entrepreneurship initiatives and the 7-member judges panel, which includes Richard O'Brien of Outsights and Dr. Camilla Toulmin of the IIED, selected Plan Bee over the the Agricultural School (Paraguay) and Shanti Sewa Griha (Nepal)projects.

Plan Bee helps female beekeepers in the northern areas of Pakistan boost their income by selling high quality honey. The project hopes to train and link around 215 women with the market by the end of 2009, helping with organic certification, participation in trade fairs and global recognition of the brand. Commendable effort indeed. You can watch the BBC clip on the project here.

Mind you, the Hashoo Group, which is the main sponsor for the Hashoo Foundation, has drawn considerable flak from the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) which had been campaigning against the Hashoo Group over what it termed as 'Pakistan's longest-running labour dispute' relating to alleged 'sackings, harassment, violence and hardship' of members of the Pearl Continental Karachi Hotel Workers Union. The IUF stepped up its campaigning against the Hashoo Group in the wake of Plan Bee's shortlisting as a finalist, calling upon members and stakeholders to lobby against the hotel chain. Subsequent to Plan Bee's victory, the IUF also posted its regrets that the BBC Panel of Judges ignored what it claimed was the parent group's 'record of vicious union-busting' and chastising the judges for using a 'dubious Corporate Social Responsibility logic'.

This episode reveals two things: one, that there are always two sides to a coin; and secondly, that CSR begins at home. Without being privy to the details of the dispute between the Hashoo Group and the Pearl Continental Karachi Hotel Workers Union and without meaning to belittle Plan Bee's achievement, as a general comment it would be fair to say that CSR practices, principles and policies need to be internalised within the company itself before any entity can lay claims to following a CSR agenda. Anything otherwise would be a sham.