Islamabad: It is a pleasure to welcome you all to the Milk/Livestock Methane Emissions Reduction Workshop. Today’s event is an important part of US efforts to increase investment in developing countries, especially those more vulnerable to climate change, such as Pakistan. Together, we aim to prepare a proposal for a major initiative to reduce methane emissions from milk production, which we will send to the Green Climate Fund.
Today we gather not only to talk, but to act. With the increasing impact of climate change, it is important to tackle one of the main causes – methane emissions from the dairy industry. Methane, a gas emitted by livestock such as cattle, is more effective than carbon dioxide at absorbing heat in our atmosphere, making it a strong contributor to global warming.
By cutting these emissions in half by 2030, we can make an important contribution to our global goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a key goal of the Paris Climate Agreement. Located in Pakistan, which has one of the largest populations in the world, the country’s dairy industry is uniquely positioned to achieve this goal.
The United States is proud to have worked with Pakistan since the 1960s, starting with the Green Revolution, which has greatly improved the lives of many Pakistanis. Now, we are investing in clean energy, water and sustainable agriculture to prepare Pakistan for a sustainable future. This partnership continues under the banner of the United States-Pakistan Green Alliance, which aims to promote sustainable development and combat the climate crisis through wise management of natural resources.
This conference is an important step in our shared commitment to environmental governance and climate sustainability in Pakistan. By bringing together key stakeholders, we aim to gather the financial and technical resources needed to tackle one of Pakistan’s most pressing environmental challenges.
The dairy industry plays an important role in this process. We have seen how methane reduction can be achieved through innovative manufacturing practices that improve efficiency. I believe that such innovation-driven partnerships can provide growth in an important sector of Pakistan’s economy.
Today, we don’t just solve technical problems; we support moral responsibility. It is our responsibility to decisively deal with the impact of climate change for future generations. Through innovation, collaboration and collective commitment, we can overcome these challenges and lay a sustainable foundation for dairy farming.
I hope our efforts will support the sustainable development of Pakistan’s dairy sector and contribute to the global goal of reducing emissions.
Thank you for your patience and I look forward to a productive conference.
