Islamabad, Feb 8: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on the international community to offer grant-based financial assistance to developing nations like Pakistan, stressing that achieving climate adaptation and green transformation is impossible without external support. His comments were made during the Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference, where he underscored the “cruel paradox” facing Pakistan, a country contributing less than 1% to global emissions while being one of the most vulnerable to climate change.
Reflecting on the catastrophic 2022 floods, which submerged a third of the country, displaced 33 million people, and caused damages worth $30 billion, the Prime Minister highlighted the urgent need for resilient infrastructure and sustainable development to mitigate future risks. He pointed out that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a present reality for Pakistan, requiring immediate and comprehensive action.
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In his speech, PM Shehbaz elaborated on Pakistan’s efforts to integrate climate resilience into key sectors such as energy, equity, connectivity, and development. He mentioned initiatives like the 5Es and 5Cs, which are embedded in the Uraan Pakistan transformation plan, as part of the country’s commitment to addressing climate challenges. The plan aims to align national development with sustainability goals while enhancing the nation’s adaptive capacity.
The Prime Minister also discussed Pakistan’s National Climate Finance Strategy (NCFS), which seeks to increase climate-related investments through improved policy alignment, diversified financial resources, and innovative funding mechanisms. The strategy is designed to be transparent and accountable, with a focus on unlocking climate finance at a scale that can address the country’s needs, while also tackling implementation gaps that have hindered progress in the past.
In closing, PM Shehbaz appealed for global empathy and practical, actionable solutions. He urged the conference to act as a catalyst for a cleaner, greener, and more resilient future for Pakistan. His message emphasized the critical need for predictable and flexible financial mechanisms to tackle the escalating climate crisis, with the hope that such support would help Pakistan and other developing nations better adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.
