Coordinator to Prime Minister (PM) on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam, on Friday emphasised that despite contributing less than one percent in the total global carbon emissions, Pakistan ranks as the 5th most impacted country in the world due to climate change.
Speaking at a national meeting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) here, she informed the participants that the effects of global warming are already visible in Pakistan, citing increasing frequency of droughts, floods, erratic weather patterns, changing agricultural practices, dwindling freshwater supplies, and loss of biodiversity.
The recurring adverse impacts of global warming on the country’s various socioeconomic sectors, particularly agriculture, energy, water, health and education have already put the country’s efforts for achieving SDGs at stake, Romina Khurshid added.
She said frequent, prolonging and intensifying droughts and floods disrupt agriculture, jeopardising food security and livelihoods across Pakistan.
She said the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment; and thus, environmental protection is a fundamental human right for all Pakistanis.
Romina Khurshid recalled that the devastating climate-induced floods of 2022, which resulted in over $30 billion in damages, served as a stark reminder of Pakistan’s vulnerabilities.
These costs continue to rise as Pakistan grapples with severe economic challenges, including rising inflation, high indebtedness, currency depreciation, and depleted foreign reserves, the PM’s climate aide added.
She highlighted that SDG-13 (Climate action) underpins and is the cornerstone for achieving our ambitious SDGs and targets, which calls for taking urgent coping actions to combat climate change and its adverse impacts on various socioeconomic sector.
‘To achieve the climate action SDG goal, we need to focus on integrating climate change concern into national policies, enhancing education and awareness, and improving institutional capacities for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and strengthening early warnings for effective disaster management,’ the PM’s climate aide suggested.
She warned that the cost of inaction on climate change is staggering. Referring to the World Bank’s Climate and Development Report for Pakistan, she pointed out that the country needs $348 billion in climate finance from 2023 to 2030 to address its adaptation, mitigation, and resilience needs.
However, the available financial resources remain limited, the PM’s aide highlighted. Despite these challenges, she said, Pakistan has made significant strides, using its own limited budgetary and technical resources.
She said Pakistan is committed to confronting the climate crisis with urgency and determination, as we work towards a sustainable future for all.