‘Achieving SDGs at risk due to climate change disasters’

Islamabad:Coordinator to Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam on Friday emphasised that despite contributing less than one percent in the total global carbon emissions, Pakistan ranked as the fifth most impacted country in the world due to climate change.

During a national meeting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) here, Romina said the effects of global warming are already visible in Pakistan, citing increasing frequency of droughts, floods, erratic weather patterns, changing agricultural practices, dwindling freshwater supplies, and loss of biodiversity.

“The recurring adverse impacts of global warming on the country’s various socioeconomic sectors, particularly agriculture, energy, water, health and education have already put the country’s efforts for achieving sustainable development goals at stake,” she said.

The aide to the PM said frequent, prolonging and intensifying droughts and floods disrupt agriculture, jeopardising food security and livelihoods across Pakistan. She said the Constitution guaranteed the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, so environmental protection was a fundamental human right for all Pakistanis.

"The devastating climate-induced floods of 2022, which resulted in over $30 billion in damages, served as a stark reminder of Pakistan's vulnerabilities. These costs continue to rise as Pakistan grapples with severe economic challenges, including rising inflation, high indebtedness, currency depreciation, and depleted foreign reserves," she said.

Romina said SDG-13 (climate action) was the cornerstone for achieving the ambitious sustainable development goals and targets, which called for taking urgent coping actions to combat climate change and its adverse impacts on various socioeconomic sector.

“To achieve the climate action SDG goal, we need to focus on integrating climate change concern into national policies, enhancing education and awareness, and improving institutional capacities for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and strengthening early warnings for effective disaster management,” she said.

Romina warned that the cost of inaction on climate change is staggering. She said despite challenges, Pakistan had made significant strides, using its own limited budgetary and technical resources.