Sherry calls for Pakistan’s own ‘conference of parties’ to build climate resilience

ISLAMABAD: Chairperson Senate Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Sherry Rehman has proposed convening Pakistan’s own “Conference of Parties”—comprising provinces, experts, and people— to intensify data-sharing, local innovations and public-private partnerships across the federation.

“Every province has its own share of challenges, from drought-hit Balochistan to the deforested valleys of Chitral to flood-hit provinces of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. “People are still struggling with livelihood challenges in each as very province has a different topography and different challenge, from mountain to delta, but every province has to act based on its access to resources, both in terms of capacity and finance,” she said while speaking as chief guest and keynote speaker at the Pakistan Red Crescent Society’s pre-COP30 conference titled “From Policy to Practice”, here on Monday.

Ms Rehman said this was a crucial convening as climate change was worsening, and the crisis will only gather higher velocity. “Without urgent adaptation, the World Bank estimates that Pakistan could lose 18–20 per cent of its GDP by 2050. So I ask: at COP30, thirty years later, where do we stand today? What are we giving and what are we taking from nature,” she asked.

Touching on global finance, she questioned “where is the $300 billion from the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), what are developed countries contributing to the South”. Senator Rehman said countries should not have to compete internationally for climate funds —it is a fundamental right. “Even early warning systems cost more than we can afford, and these are fundamental to survival now.”

She said developed countries should ideally be also asked to submit their internationally determined contributions to the countries who have a negligible carbon footprint. “Debt swaps and financial guardrails for the vulnerable must be built because, simply put, our house is burning at 53 C every summer.”