PCI signs MoU with IUCN
Source : Pakistan China Institute Date : 07-06-2015
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The Pakistan-China Institute and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) signed a memorandum of understanding to work together to promote effective public-private partnerships and to support the private sector in Pakistan and China in integrating biodiversity and environmental concerns into their core businesses. The MOU signed at PCI Headquarters here in Islamabad on World Environment Day, i.e. 5th June 2015, seeks to formalize working relations between the two organizations and lay the foundation for future cooperation.
Pakistan-China Institute, the first of its kind non-governmental, non-partisan and non-political think-tank also aims to lead policymaking by advocating for more environment friendly and green development in the coming years. With the recent launch of Research and Development International (RDI), a joint think tank focusing on research on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the collaboration with IUCN could not have come at a better time; the large-scale development that is set to take place under the CPEC project must give due importance to environmental concerns.
The signed Memorandum of understanding specifies a framework for IUCN and PCI to cooperate and collaborate especially in terms of undertaking research studies in the areas of environmental assessments and other joint initiatives relating to sustainable development along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in order to ensure the integration of biodiversity and environmental concerns into core businesses. The organisations would also work together to undertake research for producing and synthesising data and information for policy-makers to identify key environmental issues and develop specific policy recommendations.
As the work on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would progress, IUCN and PCI would also jointly undertake environmental assessments of the initiatives to be executed under the mega project. The organizations also aim to promote public-private partnerships and encourage stakeholder dialogue through seminars and arranging events to raise awareness. The organisations will also jointly undertake the responsibility to promote awareness and understanding among private sector organizations of their dependence on the ecosystem services and the critical role that companies play in promoting sustainable development.
The Pakistan-China Institute believes that with the earth’s ecosystems nearing critical points, it is necessary to evolve and move towards more responsible consumption of resources. The theme for this year’s World Environment Day – “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care,” – highlighted the importance of each individual’s responsibility to enable and advocate a more inclusive, sustainable development while reducing the rate of resource consumption. Taking the lead on this issue, PCI’s collaboration with IUCN would pave way for integrating environmental concerns while undertaking development projects.
Executive Director PCI, Mr. Mustafa Hyder Sayed and Regional Director (Asia) IUCN, Ms. Aban Marker Kabraji signed the MoU respectively, and agreed to extend cooperation in future.