Climate change and sustainable energy policies are so far no vibrant issues in Pakistan, although Pakistan is already challenged by several impacts of climate change and a serious energy crisis. There is a still huge lack of awareness among the general population but also among policy makers and opinion shapers on these issues. Furthermore there are only very few organizations and experts working on regional and global impacts and challenges of climate change.

Despite a serious energy crisis, a sustainable strategy to resolve this crisis and to provide sufficient energy for the whole country is nonexistent yet. The inaction of the government appears to be a prime example of bad governance. Since two decades the increasing demand for energy cannot keep pace with the actual energy capacity. According to official data statistical changes of the absolute energy consumption during the past 25 years was about 218%. The result is a growing deficit of energy leading to country wide load shedding - controlled distribution of available electricity. This means that an average household in major cities like Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore has about 10 to 12 hours of electricity per day. In rural or remote areas the situation is even worse. This not only affects daily life, but is particularly a severe burden for the industry as well as for medium and small scale business. However, debates on a sensible use of renewable energy resources to increase the capacity of generating energy are not result oriented so far. Even atomic energy is considered as an „alternative” energy resource, whereas unawareness or ignorance on threats and long-term consequences of nuclear technology is still prevalent among various stakeholders.

Furthermore, concepts of sustainable development in regard to equal and fair distribution of resources need to be addressed by the Government of Pakistan and other stakeholders. There is a general lack of proper administrative infrastructure, expertise as well s financial capacities. Also the gender oriented implications in this field are still neglected. Resources and services provided by the government are not claimed due to a lack of knowledge or competences of affected groups. There is only less awareness about the fact, that access to land, water, etc. in order to sustain a proper livelihood are basic human rights, which can and should be claimed by everybody.

Ecology and Sustainable Development is therefore a major area of concern for Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Pakistan. Our overall objective is the contribution to responsible policies meeting both the global challenges of climate change as well as energy policies and the regional demands on sustainable development by constructive and innovative participation. In this regard Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Pakistan is part of a strong regional internationally linked network of civil society organizations, decision makers and media which leads a solution-oriented debate on climate change and energy policies. Furthermore, selected civil society actors and decision makers are informed about issues of sustainable development as well as their gender specific implications such as access to resources or livelihood rights and also use their capacities in their respective working field.

In brief, we aim:

• to support researches and build knowledge in order to raise consciousness and awareness on the issue of sustainable development and climate change,
• to build and strengthen the networks in the field of climate change and energy policies at the national and regional level,
• and to support existing civil society organizations and decision makers on the gender specific implications on sustainable development.