Vulnerable Pakistan Highlights Gaps Ahead of COP30

News Desk 

Islamabad: A high-level panel convened by Secours Islamique France (SIF) Mission Pakistan ahead of COP30 warned that climate justice for vulnerable countries like Pakistan requires both global accountability and stronger local action.

At the panel on “Advancing Climate Justice and Community,” experts from humanitarian agencies, research institutes, and international organizations stressed that climate finance must move from pledges to practice as Pakistan faces escalating climate shocks.

Dr Altaf Abro, Head of SIF Pakistan, said climate change is “no longer an abstract debate but a daily reality” for Pakistan, one of the world’s top ten most climate-vulnerable countries, confronting heatwaves, droughts, floods, and wildfires at an alarming pace.

He called for a clean and just energy transition, fair access to adaptation finance, and operational clarity for the $300 million loss and damage fund, noting that major emitters India, China, and the United States are absent from COP30.

Thomas Canon, Deputy Country Director of WFP Pakistan, warned that a single degree rise in global temperatures could push millions more Pakistanis into food insecurity and stressed the need for transparent financing frameworks to ensure funds reach communities to build resilience.

Syed Javed Gillani of Muslim Hands cautioned that COP gatherings risk remaining “talking platforms” unless they deliver tangible relief, while Dr Anjum Rasheed of IRS highlighted poor urban planning, citing Islamabad’s E-11 floods and Ravi River inundation, and called for stronger local governments, evidence-based policies, and public climate awareness.

Raza Narejo of Islamic Relief Pakistan emphasized local preparedness over global aid, noting that over 70 million Pakistanis have been displaced by recurring disasters without comprehensive rehabilitation records.

Nelam Pari of SDPI highlighted national gaps in risk-based urban planning, climate-adaptive systems, and women’s protection in vulnerable regions. She urged predictable finance flows and direct fund allocation to local authorities, saying communities are best placed to understand and manage climate risks.

The panel underscored that while international efforts have lowered projected global warming from 4°C to 2.7°C, Pakistan’s urgent local action remains critical to protect lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.