ENERGY Plus: Energy for Climate Resilience in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa The Action focuses on promoting green economic growth by increasing clean energy supply and uptake through an integrated approach aiming at reducing pressure on natural resources, enhancing biodiversity and contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation.Pakistan is the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change (CC) and the selected project area ¿ Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and the Chitral District, Khyber Pakhthunkhwa (KP) ¿ is a unique mountainous biodiversity hotspot located at the confluence of Hindu Kush, Himalaya, and Karakorum mountain ranges, which is also one of the most sensitive areas to climate change in the country. The project area is home to 1.3 million and natural disasters such as rockfalls, landslides, snow avalanches, or Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) are increasinly frequent and severe. In the longer run climate change is leading to aggravating soil loss while the glacial mass is receding, reducing water availability in the region and the whole Indus Basin.Firewood collection exacerbated by demographic growth is putting a significant strain on natural resources in a region where only 4% of the total area is covered by natural forest while 5% is occupied by tree plantations. The main source of energy in the region is firewood, used mostly for cooking and heating, which represents 45% of the current energy mix, followed by LPG (30%). Electricity from hydropower plants (19%), and kerosene oil (6%) reaches 98% of the population in GB but the total installed capacity of 148.69 MW in 119 hydropower stations is largely insufficient by about 242 MW to meet the demand, which results in 15 to 18 h daily power outages and only basic lighting being possible in rural areas. GB region is not connected to the national grid and does not even have a regional grid.In response to these issues, the Action is designed with the overall objective of increasing climate-resilience and boost sustainable economic opportunities in Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral. Energy generation will be linked to economic development by supporting efficient use of electricity by SMEs and supply chains, including digitalisation with relation to tourism development.There are three specific objectives:1. Promote a sustainable transition to renewable energy through resilient infrastructure, efficiency measures and youth and women led energy enabled private sector green solutions, including support to digitalisation.2. Increase the viability and sustainability of natural resources management, with the accent on a vast afforestation programme3. Strengthen multisector, participatory planning, implementation and monitoring in energy, water and natural resources sectors involving local government and civil societyThe Action is aligned with the EU¿s global priorities to promote sustainable, inclusive development, along with prosperity and stability, and to step up efforts on climate change adaptation and mitigation, with a focus on afforestation. It will increase access to clean and sustainable energy to foster inclusive and sustainable green growth, including enhanced rural business and agricultural value chain development