Pakistan seeks Norway’s support in climate diplomacy

Islamabad: Coordinator to the Prime Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Romina Khurshid Alam on Monday highlighted the severe impacts of climate change on Pakistan, noting that heatwaves, floods, and droughts have disproportionately affected the mental health of women and adolescent girls.

During a meeting with former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik in her office here, the aide to the PM emphasised Pakistan’s determination to learn from international experiences in addressing climate challenges, particularly in transitioning to green energy.

She praised Bondevik's strong advocacy for human rights and stressed the importance of global cooperation to combat human rights abuses, specifically referencing violations in the Indian-occupied Kashmir region.

Alam also highlighted the devastating effects of the 2022 floods, which resulted in massive population displacement in Sindh and other regions, and led to significant financial, social, psychological, and health issues, including skin diseases in Balochistan.

“We are looking for your support in climate diplomacy, not just for Pakistan but for all vulnerable countries. Climate change has hit Pakistan hard, and we have been ranked fifth in terms of vulnerability,” she said.

The coordinator to the prime minister said that Pakistan was a resilient nation, which was working hard to implement measures to mitigate the impact of climate change. Climate change secretary Aisha Humera Moriani, who was also in attendance, pointed out that Pakistan's greatest challenge lied in accessing climate finance.

She said that while investment was important, it was not enough to address the immediate needs for rehabilitation in areas affected by heatwaves and the melting of glaciers. “We cannot allocate loan amounts for rehabilitation efforts,” she said.

The secretary said that those funds should be directed towards the country’s economic growth and not for recovery from climate disasters. She also said that Pakistan was actively pursuing water desalination technologies to conserve fresh water.