‘Pakistan should build capacity to address climate challenges’

Islamabad:PPP Senator Sherry Rehman has said that while collaboration with international bodies is essential, it is equally critical for Pakistan to build its capacity to address climate challenges at the national level. Senator Rehman was delivering her keynote address at “Post-COP29 Dialogue: analysis of outcome and strategy on way forward” organised here by Institute of Strategic Studies (ISS) along with Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change (CSCCC) and Embassy of France.

The People’s Party leader underscored the need to revitalise the climate sector and take a proactive approach to achieving national climate goals through effective stocktaking. At the international level, she highlighted the importance of transitioning from reports to tangible action, recognising where the world currently stands in its climate commitments. She further stressed that Pakistan must continue to voice its concerns and priorities at multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, as it successfully did for the Loss and Damage Fund, and take a leadership role in representing the Global South.

She stressed that global North-South financial transfers must accelerate, underlining the need for focusing on internationally determined contributions as well.

Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to PM on Climate Change at Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination emphasised the challenges faced by developing countries like Pakistan in advocating for their causes in international forums dominated by developed nations. She noted that Pakistan remained resolute in its approach and trajectory at COP29, garnering significant recognition and praise for its efforts. She highlighted the establishment of a consortium at the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) during COP 29, where vulnerable nations united to create a collective risk pool and develop strategies for managing climate finance. Pakistan played a key role in negotiations at COP 29, particularly regarding loans and grants for early warning systems to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters, in collaboration with like-minded countries.