Abid Ali Chohan

Experience

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  WWF-Pakistan

  Aug 2005 - Sept 2008

  Conservation Intern / Assistant Librarian / Assistant Consultant Environment

  • Coordinated and supported the Scientific Committee projects’ reporting and documentation.• Supported Environmental Scientists with the literature and internet research.• Research and Survey on Veterinary Diclofenac Sodium (the drug that affects the vultures) Selling points in Lahore and mapping them.• Did a thorough review of literature present on the mammals, birds, amphibians and reptile species of KPK, AJK and Northern Areas of Pakistan.• Presented the findings and synchronized the National data with IUCN Red List 2008 Show less

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  National Environmental Consultants Pvt. Ltd.

  Nov 2008 - Jun 2009

  Assistant EIA Officer

  Served as an Assistant EIA Officer and assisted Senior EIA Consultants in carrying out Reconnaissance Survey of industrial area of Faisalabad and a proposed leather tanning operation. Tasks included;• Assisting the EIA Research Team in conducting the Reconnaissance Survey of an Industrial Estate in Faisalabad.• Visiting the project sites and assisting the senior consultants in air and noise pollution monitoring and reporting.• Coordinating with other departments for acquiring the data related to HSE projects in Lahore and Faisalabad• Assisted in formulating and documenting the EIA reports during internship.• Studying the Census Reports to extract data regarding the environmental conditions.• Seeking guidance of the senior consultants in formulating the plan for the Leather Tanning industry’s environmental assessment which in turn also led to the completion of the thesis project on leather tanning industry’s environmental footprint in the wake of proposed development activity. Show less

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  WWF-Pakistan

  Jul 2009 - May 2010

  Environmental Education Officer

  Assisted conservation managers in WWF-Pakistan as an Environmental Education Officer in the development and execution of an environmental education program in Lahore Zoo Safari for WWF Pakistan that included;• Delivering Lectures and organizing quiz competitions about wildlife and environmental problems to visiting Schools, Colleges and Universities.• Socializing and meeting with visitors to highlight the role of species in the environment and motivating them to conserve the environment and become a member of WWF-Pakistan.• Coordinating with the wildlife Department on the short comings of the environmental education initiatives in place at the Lahore Zoo Safari.• Reporting on the outcomes of the environmental awareness activities in Lahore Zoo Safari Park and making plans in consultation with senior conservationists for better implementation of the environmental awareness strategies.Milestones Achieved:- Worked with more than 46 Institutions for conservation.- Trained a Staff of 108 employees on wildlife management, conservation and safety protocols.- Environmental awareness resulted in 45-60% reduction of waste by visitors. Show less

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  S.W.A.N.

  Jun 2010 - Jul 2011

  Assistant Consultant Environment

  Duties involved;• Providing technical and logistic help to the team of conservationists and biologists engaged with the protection of cranes in Pakistan.• Providing technical help to Protection of Cranes in Punjab (a WWF Scientific Committee Project) and making the project technical and budgetary reports.• Arranging and distributing the resource material for the presentations, workshops and seminars held by S.W.A.N. • Content writing on the issues of conservation and cranes of Pakistan for the website of S.W.A.N (http://www.swanpakistan.org/)• Running advocacy campaign and approaching different organizations to seek their liaison and institutional support for the conservation of environment in general and cranes in particular.Milestones Achieved:- Our efforts successfully brought back 9 couples of cranes after 5 long years.- Documentary on cranes was nominated for Syed Asad Ali Conservation Award by WWF-Pakistan. Show less

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  EnviroSafe Consults

  Sept 2011 - Aug 2014

  Environment Scientist / Sustainability Advisor

  Activities included;• Providing inputs for the Sustainability reporting of the Clients as per the GRI and other applicable standards.• Providing Clients with technical insights on selection of indicators for sustainability reporting.• Leading in the identification, design, and development of existing and new CSR programs / initiatives and their relative value-added services.• Working with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) team on Environmental Assessments of development and construction projects;• Visiting the project sites and making the environmental inventory of the area, collecting and identifying the flora, fauna, soil and water quality samples for laboratory testing.• On site water quality testing (for compliance with National Environmental Quality Standards and WHO guidelines) and collecting water samples for detailed water quality testing, conducting alkalinity, pH, TSS, TDS and turbidity testing in laboratory.• On site monitoring of the environmental parameters (such as noise and air quality) and making Environmental and Social Management Plans, Indigenous population safety and Community Health Plans, Hazardous waste handling and management plans. • Studying and developing mitigation policies and plans and using checklists and matrices to evaluate the impact of proposed development activities on flora, fauna, atmospheric conditions and other environmental factors. • Proposing measures for pollution control, recycling, energy and water conservation, waste and wastewater management, emergency preparedness, environmental health and other sustainability aspects.• Proposing technical alternatives to minimize the GHG emissions, suggesting the project proponents on the cost effective administrative and technical interventions and post project restoration. • Reviewing and working on clients’ comments and submitting the EIAs to Environmental authorities for approval of the Environmental Assessments. Show less

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  National Development Consultants

  Oct 2014 - May 2022

  Environmental / Sustainability Engineer

  Activities included;• Preparing the environmental/social methodology parts of Project Technical Proposals as per the KfW, IFC /World Bank sustainability guidelines. • Preparing, reviewing, editing, analyzing and surveying for the Environmental Impact Assessment Reports, Resettlement Action Plans, Environmental Management & Monitoring Plans, Health Safety and Environment plans of ongoing projects as per TORs • Assisting Climate change and Social Development Specialists in the preparation of the environmental and social reports as per TORs • Environmental/social and HSE reporting as per the Client’s guidelines and standards specifically the IFC and World Bank Sustainability guidelines;• Working on feasibility studies of hydropower projects according to the relevant guidelines of the World Bank (OP/BP 4.01, 4.04, 4.11, 4.12, 4.20, and 4.36 etc.; • Documenting and reviewing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan (EMMP), Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and other associated Impact Assessments such as Aquatic Ecology, Terrestrial Ecology, Agriculture Study, Irrigation Study, Water Quality and Limnology, Socio Economic Baseline, Physical and Cultural Resources impact assessment; • Prepared Sustainability and CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) Evaluation Report to advise WAPDA over the potential of the mega project to earn carbon credits; worked with Economic Section to help them carry out the economic and financial feasibility of the mega hydropower project; • Working on PC-II (Planning Commission Form II for Feasibility Studies) to get approval for Design and Tender from Planning Commission of Pakistan; Prepared amendment contract for the time extension in the services Show less

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  WWF - Pakistan

  May 2022 - now

  Manager Climate and Energy Program

  Offering project development/management skills in the area of climate change mitigation / adaptation and delivering complex programs, projects and initiatives related to net zero, low carbon development strategies, climate resilience and circular economyActivities include;- Providing technical support for preparation of Pakistan’s 3rd National Communication to UNFCCC- Supporting preparation of Pakistan’s National Cooling Action Plan through research and stakeholder engagement- Rendering technical support for preparation of National Plastic Action Plan- Managing Power Sector Improvement Activity for renewable energy promotion- Managing Coastal Cleanup to remove 5000 tons waste from Karachi Coast- Managing M&E of 45,000 tons of Plastic Recycling• Conducting Green Office Audits and preparation of audit reports• GHG data review, advising various proponents on strategies/plans/frameworks to reduce the GHGs and carbon footprint• Developing plans and projects on plastics circularity, recycling and cleanups for various organizations and International Donor Organizations.• Developing concept notes and project proposals with an execution methodology, work plan and budget• Actively looking for funding and grants; RFPs (Request for proposals), TORs, international grants on sustainable cities, renewable energy, plastics recovery & circularity and carbon neutrality, etc. • Representing and contributing technically to various government initiatives on climate budget tagging, smog, plastics mitigation plans, clean air policy, writ petitions for environmental safeguard and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)• Conducting capacity building workshops, organizing events, campaigns and seminars. • Coordinating activities under the Plastics platform, “CoRe”• Maintaining a liaison with ACAIs (Areas of Collective Action & Innovation), Plastics Community, Cities team, Climate & Energy group and providing support to other projects and initiatives of WWF-Pakistan Show less

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  Re-Carbon

  Oct 2022 - now

  Regional Expert

  Working as Freelance Regional Expert and offering audit, validation and verification services on renewable energy/GHG emission reduction projects, such as agriculture, wind, solar and hydro to check the real and measurable emissions reductions claiming the carbon credits (CERs, VERs, ACCs etc.)Activities include;• Auditing and verifying the SDGs impacts and GHG emission reduction projects in domain of;- Renewable Energy- Agriculture - Water and Sanitation• Participating in either physical or remote site visits to validate and verify the emission reduction claims of the Gold Standard and GCC Projects with a focus on checking the impact on social, economic and environmental indicators.• Coordinating and supporting the audit team by surveying and interviewing stakeholders (consultant, project owner and villagers)• Advising clients on the carbon market trends and improving the quality of carbon credits• Bringing in “local knowledge” about the Electricity / Agriculture market and local establishment and mechanism of emission reduction projects.• Reviewing the documents including Project Design Documents (PDDs), local legislations, IPCC methodologies and additionality, generation licenses, relevant reports, validation protocols, land acquisition and contract documents, EIA/ESIAs etc. Show less