Lahore has taken a significant step towards climate resilience with the launch of the Lahore Climate Action Plan (LCAP) during a Rapid Strategic Appraisal and Visioning Workshop. Spearheaded by The Urban Unit, Government of Punjab, this initiative marks the first city-level climate project in the region, addressing Lahore’s severe air pollution, rising temperatures, urban heat islands, and increased flooding.
The event opened with welcome remarks by Mr. Raja Jehangir, Secretary of the Punjab Environmental Protection Department (EPD), followed by a message from Mr. Usman Manzoor, Program Manager of the Climate Promise Programme (CPP) at UNDP. Ms. Shruti Narayan, Managing Director of Regions and Mayoral Engagement at C40 Cities, shared a video message emphasizing the importance of regional collaboration.
Mr. Abid Hussainy, Project Team Lead and General Manager Environment & Climate Change at The Urban Unit, presented an overview of LCAP, aligning it with the Climate Resilient Punjab Vision and Action Plan 2024. The plan aims for emissions neutrality by 2050, addressing Lahore’s environmental challenges.
Lahore experiences 265 unhealthy days annually, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 405. The city faces significant environmental pressures, including 4.5 million bikes, 3.4 million cars, 6,800 industries, and 6.6 million acres of rice fields contributing to pollution. Stubble burning has increased by 10%, and green cover is shrinking. Despite Pakistan’s less than 1% contribution to global GHG emissions, Lahore urgently needs action. LCAP aims to reduce emissions by 50% in one year, with a focus on waste management, including addressing the absence of a proper landfill.
The official launch of LCAP was marked by a signing ceremony involving Mr. Raja Jehangir, Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh and Mr. Abid Hussainy. This commitment to a sustainable future was a highlight of the event, symbolizing a unified pledge to prioritize climate action in Lahore.
Participants engaged in a visioning exercise, “Kaisa Hoga Mera Shehar Lahore” (What Will My City Lahore Be Like?), led by The Urban Unit’s LCAP team. The exercise encouraged collaboration and envisioning of a sustainable urban future.
In closing remarks, Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh emphasized the critical need for evidence-based climate strategies to protect public health, infrastructure, and the quality of life in Lahore. The LCAP aligns with the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on emissions neutrality, climate resilience, and equitable benefits for all Lahore’s citizens.
