Pakistan is a clear example of the far-reaching effects of the climate crisis. As a result of the 2022 floods which claimed the lives of at least 1,700 people, destroyed millions of homes and decimated large areas of farmland, the United States has provided more than $215 million in flood relief assistance.
But the climate crisis cannot be solved by a single country. It requires contributions from its partners, which is why the United States and Pakistan are working together through the US-Pakistan Green Alliance framework to promote cooperation on climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and water management.
The US-Pakistan Green Alliance framework also aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth by expanding bilateral trade and investment and creating new jobs, industries and opportunities.
At an event commemorating the partnership on July 6, 2023, US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome said: “The Green Alliance framework is not just about mitigating climate change and environmental degradation. It also offers Pakistan a tremendous economic opportunity by recognizing that green options are also increasingly profitable and in demand by private markets.”
The Green Alliance partnership builds on a rich history of partnership between the United States and Pakistan. The United States invested in Pakistan’s electrification more than 50 years ago, building dams and hydroelectric plants that continue to provide reliable, efficient and clean energy today.
These projects dramatically increased Pakistan’s electricity capacity, which today powers the homes of more than 50 million people. Dams also help prevent catastrophic water shortages, mitigate the effects of flooding, and expand agricultural productivity.
One of several priority projects under the Green Alliance was the completion of a 150 million dollar project renovate and upgrade the power generation capacity of the Mangla Dam Hydropower Plant in collaboration with the private sector and the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority.
The Mangla Dam is one of three Pakistani dam renovation projects that the United States has funded.
Other Green Alliance initiatives include:
- The Future of Women in Energy scholarship program, launched by the United States in 2022, will provide international educational and professional opportunities to women in Pakistan.
- The Recharge Pakistan program brings together the United States, the Green Climate Fund, the Coca-Cola Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund to improve water systems and invest in green infrastructure.
- The US-funded $4.5 million Fertilizer Right project helps Pakistani farmers improve fertilizer efficiency, reduce nitrous oxide emissions and improve crop production.
The Green Alliance partnership is based on a rich history. In the 1960s, the United States supported Pakistan’s Green Revolution, which boosted crop yields, improved economic opportunities for Pakistanis, and increased food security and life expectancy.
The US-Pakistan Green Alliance framework not only confronts the climate crisis: it addresses it with innovation, solidarity and partnership and represents the power of collective action.
“As we look back on more than 75 years of friendship between the United States and Pakistan, we should be proud of our achievements,” Blome said. “From the Green Revolution of the 1960s to the current US-Pakistan Green Alliance, we have forged a partnership that has overcome many challenges and grown stronger to overcome them.”