ISLAMABAD: As the Presidency won `Best International Energy Project of the Year Award for 2023`, President Arif Alvi on Monday called for improving energy efficiency, adopting sustainable practices and changing attitudes and priorities to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change.

`Transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and reforestation are keys to curb the adverse impacts on the planet`s climate and ecosystems,` the president said while addressing an event with respect to a project `Green Presidency of Pakistan` at the President House.

He said the modern world with changing priorities and attitudes was becoming dangerous which must be stopped to limit the adverse impacts of climate change. The GreenPresidency of Pakistan is a flagship initiative under which a one-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system was installed along with effective implementation of energy conservation and efficiency measures.

The president said the initiative would result in a reduction in energy usage by Aiwan-iSadr by 42.5 per cent. This energy savingsis equivalent to a reduction of 3,144 tonnes of greenhouse gases or a plantation of 142,090 mature trees.

`It is a matter of great pleasure that out of 129 projects from around the world, the Green Presidency Project of Pakistan has been conferred with the prestigious award of International Energy Project of the Year 2023,` he added.

He also expressed gratitude to the Association of Energy Engineers USA for recognising it with the award. The president also called for promoting peace in the world and discouraging wars that were a bigcause of deviating the world`s focus on mitigating global warming.

He said despite contributing less than one per cent in carbon emission, Pakistan suffered huge losses in last year`s devastating noods that occurred due to global warming and climate change.

He recalled that by mid-20th century, people were conscious about utilising natural resources, but now priorities have been changed, the needs and wants mixed due to which they started using abundant resourcesfortheir ease.

Alvi said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had also taught how to consume natural resources with utmost care by demonstrating the same in his life. The president pointed out that the world was witnessing a much-needed transition towards clean energy in the wake of climate change.

`The need for plentiful, sustainable energy that doesn`t disrupt the delicate balance ofthe Earth`s atmosphere may be the single most important issue facing this generation.

Earlier, the president gave away souvenirs to the project director, head of the project and representatives of Engro, Huawei and Osaka Lights for their contributions in the project.

In his video message, Executive Director Association of Energy Engineer Bill Kent said the association had been awarding for four decades individuals and organisations to recognise their efforts in efficient usage of energy.

He congratulated the team of the project Green Presidency on winning the award as due to their efforts a remarkable achievement of saving energy of the building by over 42pc.

The managing director of the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority said an investment of $50 billion would be required to achieve the set goals of producing 60pc renewable energy by 2030.