The proactive federal climate change minister, Zahid Hamid, could not pull the largest provinces Punjab and Sindh out of their hibernation on the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP), even at the recently convened third meeting to review progress on the policy’s implementation. Both provinces failed to show any progress on promises they had made in the second meeting. This is certainly not a desired course of action from our most populated provinces that have suffered the most in the last eight years from climate change impacts like unexpected heavy rains, flash floods, and droughts. Both provinces as well as G-B and FATA regions failed to make any progress on planning of actions to be taken in future for implementation of the NCCP. Reports in this regard had been expected to be received at the Ministry of Climate Change by March 15. These reports had to include proposed measures for adaptation and mitigation, and a technology needs assessment. This attitude shows the lack of interest of these provinces and regions in combatting climate change impacts and safeguarding lives and livelihood of the people. On the contrary, governments of KP, AJ&K and Balochistan provided updates on actions undertaken as well as those planned for the future. This is appreciable. The civil society organisations and community groups shall keep raising their voices against the lack of interest and inadequate performance of provinces that are, intentionally or unintentionally, lagging behind in planning and implementation of the climate change action agenda. Though, Opposition political parties are active on many fronts, but their activism seems to be focused mostly on non-issues. The actual issues that concern public safety are not a priority for them. Although, working on these issues could help these parties gain support of concerned citizens and the masses. It is already too late. The NCCP had been finalised and approved in principle by Pakistan’s cabinet in March 2012, ratified in September 2012, and officially launched in February 2013. The federal government and the taskforce on climate change had taken more than five years to formulate this policy. This was an unexpectedly long time considering the policy they came up with was not of a very high calibre. Some believe that the ‘lucrative payments on consultancies’ had a role in delaying policy formulation. Having been shelved for years is the other unfortunate instance with the Policy. We shall welcome the federal minister for taking up the issue of NCCP’s implementation, with participation of provinces and other stakeholders. Yet, instead of taking advantage of the opportunity, the lack of response from Punjab and Sindh shows that they have different priorities. What would be the fate of the National Climate Change Council (NCCC) if large provinces continue to show no interest in the matter? The efficient performance in terms of reporting by governments of KP, AJK, G-B, and Balochistan is a good omen. The various environmental protection agencies (EPAs) all over the country have failed to check environment-unfriendly practices. The hand-cuffed government officials can do little in the face of influence and pressure from the top. Here, I am referring particularly to the Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), and even the Initial Environmental Examination (IEEs). We don’t find any example of impartial and meritorious assessments, especially for mega projects. In most of these cases, projects are run by partners or friends of our rulers. Do we see any genuine assessment for any housing society or a development project, whether in public or private sector? Of course, the answer is a big no. Despite knowing these facts, the NCCP Implementation Committee had in its second meeting very innocently included the assessment of climate change impact while reviewing the Initial Environmental Examination (IEEs) only. One can only laugh at the ambitious agenda set in the concept note on climate change impacts on development projects, developed by the Ministry of Climate Change and the United Nation Development Programme. I believe that no EPA would work to the scope and mandate envisaged for them until they are transformed into independent authorities that can make impartial decisions fearlessly. It would be a great and historic moment for the country if the federal climate change minister, also the federal law minister, takes up the issue and overseas amendments in the respective legislations. May I ask if any EPA has the courage to say a single word against projects that would be run with the energy produced by plants using lowest-grade coal that causes very high carbon emissions and pollutes air all around? The poor and vulnerable communities will be the worst affected by this pollution. No EPA would dare to take up any such issue under the present environmental regime. I would rather suggest that the federal government should not give any more false hopes to the people. The 3rd April meeting had reiterated that the provinces should take measures to build technical capacity to deal with climate change. The federal climate change ministry pledged again to provide necessary technical support to provinces and regions, particularly with regards to capacity building for access to climate change finance and green climate fund which is in progress. Let’s see how the provinces act in days to come to benefit from the Centre and to protect their people from the impacts of the fast changing climate. The federal minister is quite right to expect from the provinces to integrate climate compatible development with sustainable development goals (SDGs). These two should reflect in their budgets of the next fiscal year, and onwards, if they are truly sincere to their people. The writer is an Islamabad-based public policy and outreach expert. He can be reached at devcom.pakistan@gmail.com. He tweets @EmmayeSyed