DUBAI: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar urged developed countries on Saturday to spearhead efforts to enhance global mitigation efforts in proportion to their economic capacity and historical responsibility while also supporting developing countries in achieving the same.
Speaking at the 28th Conference of Parties of the United Nations (COP28) in Dubai, Kakar said that establishing a robust framework is needed for a global adaptation goal, complete with clear targets and indicators, and regular progress monitoring to achieve global resilience.
Kakar underscored the importance of allocating at least half of climate finance to adaptation and called for the immediate fulfillment of the $100 billion commitments for climate finance. The premier said that such financing should not impede development funds or contribute to the existing debt burden of developing countries.
Expressing high expectations from COP28, Kakar urged for concrete actions rather than mere rhetoric. He stressed the need to provide developing countries with essential means of implementation, including climate finance, capacity-building, and technology, to effectively address the escalating challenge of climate change.
Pakistan’s PM Calls for Additional Grant-Based Finance
Highlighting Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, Kakar mentioned last year’s super floods and predicted this year to be the hottest in recorded history. He outlined Pakistan’s commitment to climate action, including presenting revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) at COP26 and launching the Living Indus Initiative, which combines efforts for climate and nature conservation.
PM Kakar informed the audience about Pakistan’s leadership in establishing a global loss and damage fund during the previous year and the ongoing efforts to activate a well-funded loss and damage fund with suitable financial arrangements. He stressed that climate justice requires developed countries to provide sufficient additional, predictable, grant-based climate finance to enable developing nations to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while contributing to climate objectives.
Pakistan’s prime minister held a meeting with heads of different states on the sidelines of the global climate summit and discussed the environmental challenges faced by Pakistan.
