The federal government has proposed moving the Pakistan Climate Change Authority under the Ministry of Climate Change. A bill introduced in the National Assembly seeks to amend the Pakistan Climate Change Act, 2017.
Under these proposed changes, the federal ministers for industries and health would join the council as members. The prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan are also slated to join the council.
The bill suggests lowering the number of non-official council members from 20 down to 15. Legislators also aim to reduce the minimum annual requirement for council meetings from two to one.
New amendments would grant the council authority to issue directions regarding biodiversity, wildlife, and forest protection. The Pakistan Climate Change Authority membership would increase from 9 to 12 people under the new proposal.
A two-year term is proposed for the chairperson of the authority. The prime minister would have the power to grant a 2-year extension for that chairperson's tenure.
Currently, the Prime Minister chairs the Pakistan Climate Change Council as the nation's highest climate policy body.
