Sherry urges global action on climate justice

ISLAMABAD: Chairperson Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman has called on historic big emitters to take meaningful action not only to curb rising emissions but also to address the escalating impacts of climate change on frontline nations.

In an interview with the BBC, Ms Rehman said the reality for frontline countries, particularly in South Asia, was that global warming was already causing unpredictable and extremely volatile monsoons and other extreme weather events. “Unfortunately, the promised climate finance transfers are not materialising. Donor countries are redirecting funds to address their own climate stress, even as regions like Europe experience unprecedented heat — with 40-degree summers prompting emergency declarations in cities like London.”

She emphasised that while Europe faces new climate extremes, countries like Pakistan are enduring far harsher conditions, with temperatures frequently surpassing 50 degrees Celsius. “This stark disparity highlights the unequal treatment of resilience,” she noted. “The resilience of nations most affected by climate change is treated as secondary, and donor priorities remain misaligned with the urgent needs on the ground.”

Senator Rehman stressed the need to prioritise key areas in Pakistan’s climate response. “First and foremost, there is an immediate need to address the humanitarian disasters triggered by recurring climate events,” she said.

“Beyond immediate relief, Pakistan must undertake a comprehensive climate governance audit. This is not about using ‘climate’ as a buzzword, but about critically evaluating our policies, planning, and infrastructure to ensure that future development does not exacerbate vulnerabilities.”

She concluded by reaffirming that Pakistan’s path to resilience must be “structured, strategic, and sustainable,” and reiterated that without climate justice and genuine financial support from major emitters, countries on the frontline of the crisis will continue to pay the highest price for a problem they did not create.