PM Kakar To Demand ‘Climate Justice’ At COP28

News Desk

New York: Pakistan’s developed country partners must fulfil their pledge to provide $100 billion annually in climate finance, said Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar.

While addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit Leader’s Dialogue, Anwaar-ul-Haq informed world leaders that Pakistan will seek climate justice and financial support at the United Nations climate conference (COP28) which will be held in Dubai in December this year.

Separately, while addressing the Climate Ambition Summit 2023 on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), PM urged all nations to raise their climate ambitions, and extend financial and technical support to developing countries like Pakistan to help them achieve climate ambitions.

Despite contributing less than one percent to global warming, Pakistan is among the top ten most vulnerable countries, Kakar further stated.

At the Climate Ambition Summit 2023 at @UN, I cited ayah 14 of Surah Younas: ثُـمَّ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ خَلَآئِفَ فِى الْاَرْضِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِـمْ لِنَنْظُـرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُوْنَ, emphasizing the Islamic teachings and guidance to act responsibly in all facets of life. pic.twitter.com/2AWeeJUDng

— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) September 21, 2023

Due to its “well-established” climate vulnerability, adaptation is a “critical” priority for Pakistan, he added.

PM Anwaar-ul-Haq informed that Pakistan has adopted the first-ever National Adaptation Plan which would direct the projection and casting of the measures listed in the Plan in order to increase climate resilience.

The second phase of the plan would mark the preparation for the sector-specific investment framework which would serve as a blueprint to translate and identify adaptation needs into concrete and bankable initiatives, Interim PM further added.

Caretaker PM also highlighted Pakistan’s ‘Living Indus Initiative’ which is aimed at restoring the ecological health of the Indus basin. Pakistan took significant steps to enhance the early warning capacity as well as the flood protection plan.

Despite its lack of contribution to global warming, Pakistan chose to be part of the solution by deciding to convert 60 percent of its energy resources to alternative energy by 2030 which would cost the country around $100 billion, Interim PM mentioned.

I have never seen climate carnage on the scale of the floods here in Pakistan.

As our planet continues to warm, all countries will increasingly suffer losses and damage from climate beyond their capacity to adapt.

This is a global crisis. It demands a global response. pic.twitter.com/5nqcJIMoIA

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) September 10, 2022

Citing Quranic verses, Kakar told the world leaders that Islam promoted responsibility to protect the environment, utilise natural resources efficiently and undertake an equitable approach to nature.

Urging the global community to come up with climate action and support for developing countries, the prime minister stated that this would be a litmus test of solidarity and perhaps for the survival of our species on our injured planet.