The Supreme Court noted on Tuesday that metropolitan authorities must make sure that their development plans take adaptation, climate resiliency, and sustainability into account and promote them.
An eight-page judgement written by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah during the hearing of a petition challenging the Islamabad High Court order stated that “the urban development authorities need to seriously consider the climate change angle before putting up a proposal for amendment or modification in the Master Plan or a scheme.”
It continued, “Any conversion of residential neighbourhoods to commercial zones should not be permitted without proper investigation, forethought, and remedial measures to control the soaring thermal environment. This is because increased human and vehicular traffic and activity are likely to have a negative environmental impact.”
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Board of Directors’ decision to revoke its prior directive to commercialize the residential properties in front of the Industrial and Trading Center in Sector G-9/4, Islamabad, was contested by the petitioner.
The case was heard by a division bench presided over by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah. The decree stated that in order to address the triple planetary crises of climate change, air pollution, and biodiversity loss, it is imperative that our urban planners give the climate factor top priority in their development strategies.
According to the order, the impact of climate change on cities has an impact on people’ core fundamental rights to life, dignity, and property as protected by articles 9, 14, 18, and 23 of the 1973 Islamic Republic of Pakistan Constitution.
Climate change can harm a person’s quality of life in an urban setting, violate his or her dignity, and rob them of their property or the ability to fully enjoy their property. The fundamental human rights of the people of Pakistan are inextricably linked to the incorporation of adaptation, climate resilience, and sustainability in the policy decisions made by the urban development authorities because these factors are crucial for the actualization of the people’s fundamental rights.
According to the order, the idea of “Right to the City” has evolved into a popular framework for articulating alternative city visions and formulating a variety of demands on matters pertaining to urban equity and social justice.
The court ruled that one aspect of our nation’s reaction to climate change is the constant development of creative and clever “adaptation” measures. Our approach for adapting to climate change calls for Pakistan and its public institutions to adopt policies that are climate resilient and base the rest of their choices on sustainability .
Pakistan was listed as one of the most vulnerable nations and was severely affected by climate change, according to the directive, despite its small contribution to greenhouse gases (GHGs). The urgency of this existential threat was highlighted in the National Climate Change Policy of 2012. The aim of this policy paper was climate resilient development and adaptation, but as a responsible member of the global community, due importance was also given to mitigation measures.
The order stated that the CDA must make sure to take adaptation, climate resiliency, and sustainability into account when making plans, policies, and decisions in order to safeguard the constitutional rights to life, dignity, and property of Pakistani citizens in general and residents of Islamabad in particular. Certain extreme occurrences, such as strong heatwaves, torrential downpours, flooding from heavy precipitation and coastal storm surges, and disease incidence connected to temperature and precipitation variations are all made more likely, frequent, and intense as a result of climate change. When the impacts of climate change combine with existing urban stressors like decaying infrastructure, areas of extreme poverty, and dense population, urban inhabitants become even more vulnerable.
Mahnur is MS(development Studies)Student at NUST University, completed BS Hons in Eng Literature. Content Writer, Policy analyst, Climate Change specialist, Teacher, HR Recruiter.
