ISLAMABAD: Pakistan joined the global community to observe Earth Hour on Saturday after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the country would fulfil its obligations related to climate change.
Millions of people from over 190 countries observed Earth Hour by switching off lights for just one hour to reduce carbon emissions and other harmful greenhouse gases.
The occasion, first introduced by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) in 2007, is part of an annual tradition to raise awareness about climate change and spark global conversations on protecting nature, tackling the effects of climate change, and working in collaboration to shape a brighter future for all.
“Pakistan joins the global community today in observing Earth Hour and demonstrating its commitment to the fulfillment of its obligations to climate change actions,” the prime minister wrote in a Twitter post.
“Saving our planet from the ill effects of climate change is a collective endeavor, one in which everyone matters,” he added.
Last year, Pakistan was ranked as the 8th most vulnerable country to the impact of climate change by the “Global Climate Risk Index 2021.” The report maintained that the country’s challenges included water stress, desertification, glacier melting, extreme weather events, and the spread of diseases.
Earlier, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also appealed to the international community to participate in the global event.
“#EarthHour is a call to massively increase #ClimateAction & a reminder that all of us can play our part,” he wrote on Twitter.
“I invite you to switch off your lights for an hour on 25 March at 8.30 pm local time - wherever you are. Every minute and every hour counts.”
