The recently formalized Pakistan-United Kingdom (UK) climate partnership under the UK–Pakistan Green Compact aims at strengthening climate resilience, accelerating the clean energy transition and scaling up nature-based solutions, particularly mangrove conservation.
According to the media spokesperson of the Climate Change Ministry, Mohammad Saleem Shaikh, the recently-launched initiative marked a “decisive move towards action-oriented climate cooperation”.
“The UK–Pakistan Green Compact translates years of engagement into practical delivery. For Pakistan, which faces recurrent floods, heatwaves and water stress, implementation over the next decade will be critical,” he said.
The agreement, signed recently in Islamabad by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik and UK Minister for International Development Jennifer Chapman, unlocks £35 million in targeted support for green development and long-term climate action.
Officials from both sides described the Compact as a shift from policy dialogue to implementation at a time when climate risks are intensifying across South Asia, with Pakistan among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the region.
According to Mr Shaikh, the Compact is built around five core pillars: climate finance and investment, clean energy transition, nature-based solutions, innovation and youth empowerment, and adaptation and resilience.
“Under the jointly agreed framework, the UK will work with Pakistan to mobilize both public and private climate finance, strengthen regulatory frameworks for green investment and help develop a pipeline of bankable climate projects,” he said.
Clean energy forms a central component of the partnership. Pakistan aims to expand solar and wind generation to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, improve energy security and stabilize power costs.
Mr Shaikh noted that global market trends had made renewable energy increasingly viable. “Solar power is now significantly cheaper than fossil fuels, while wind energy has become even more competitive. This creates a strong economic case for accelerating Pakistan’s renewable transition,” he said.
Nature-based solutions are another key focus, with large-scale mangrove restoration planned to protect coastal communities from storm surges and erosion, while enhancing biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
“Mangroves act as natural shields against climate shocks. Their restoration strengthens coastal resilience while delivering environmental and economic benefits,” the ministry official said.
Innovation and youth engagement will also be prioritized under the Compact. The partnership envisages mentoring, technical assistance and access to investors for climate-smart startups and young innovators, aimed at expanding opportunities within the green economy.
