To bolster its global climate advocacy, Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change has announced a comprehensive plan to showcase the nation’s resilience-building initiatives at the upcoming COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, scheduled for November 2024.
This was revealed during the inaugural meeting of the Prime Minister’s Committee on COP29, chaired by Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change.
The meeting underscored the importance of presenting Pakistan’s efforts in various socio-economic sectors, including agriculture, water, energy, health, education, and gender. Alam emphasized the need for a well-coordinated and concrete plan, developed in collaboration with relevant federal and provincial departments, to effectively communicate the country’s climate vulnerability and ongoing resilience-building measures.
“We must come up with a well-thought-out plan to showcase the country’s resilience-building measures with our own resources and highlight the finance, technology, and capacity-building needs to further strengthen our resilience against myriad climate risks through adaptation and mitigation measures,” Alam urged the participants.
Highlighting Pakistan’s climate challenges, Alam noted that the global community recognizes Pakistan as one of the countries most affected by climate change. The nation faces recurring and intensifying flooding, heatwaves, and shifting monsoon patterns. Alam stressed the pressing need to emphasize the financial and technical support required to address these vulnerabilities and protect the lives and livelihoods of affected communities.
Pakistan has consistently advocated for adaptation strategies to build resilience against the adverse effects of climate change. Alam pointed out that the country has proposed increased support for enhancing resilience in vulnerable communities and sectors, such as agriculture and water management, with a focus on adaptation measures for resource-poor nations like Pakistan.
In terms of mitigation, Alam highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint through the use of renewable energy, promotion of electric vehicles and mass transit systems, increasing forest cover, and adopting smart farming techniques. She also emphasized the need for greater international cooperation and fair climate finance, urging developed nations to fulfill their financial commitments to support developing countries in their climate action efforts.
The meeting concluded with a plan for weekly follow-up sessions to refine Pakistan’s strategy for COP29. These sessions will include consultations with sector experts and representatives from various ministries, organizations, and provinces.
Attendees of the meeting included secretaries from the ministries of Climate Change, Finance, Planning Development and Special Initiatives, Economic Affairs, and Foreign Affairs, as well as representatives from the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), McKinsey & Company, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations.
As Pakistan gears up for COP29, the Ministry of Climate Change is determined to present a unified and robust front, showcasing the nation’s commitment to addressing climate change and advocating for the necessary global support to enhance its resilience and adaptive capacity.
Azerbaijan’s capital city Baku will host COP29, the United Nations’ annual climate change conference. The sessions will be held from November 11 to 22, 2024, at the Baku Olympic Stadium located at Heydar Aliyev, 323, Baku, Azerbaijan.