ZubairQureshi
In a concerted effort to address the urgent and escalating challenges posed by climate change during COP 28, National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination held several events prior to COP 28, which served as a crucial platform for engaging with national and international stakeholders.
They include the government bodies, development partners, international community stakeholders, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society, private sector, and academia in order to strengthen climate resilience agenda of Pakistan.
Caretaker Federal Minister for Climate Change & Environmental Coordination Ahmad IrfanAslam said that such pre-COP events refine our collective negotiating positions. He stressed that our mission is to mainstream climate change in the economically and socially vulnerable sectors of the economy and to steer Pakistan towards climate resilient development.
He highlighted the commitments made under Paris agreement and initiatives undertaken to deal with the impacts of climate change but also stressed on the fact that a lot is still needed to be done.
He further said that “Climate action is not a choice; it’s our shared responsibility and a priority. Together, we can turn the tide of climate change and build a sustainable legacy for generations to come.”
Bilal Anwar, CEO NDRMF said that in the face of climate challenges, resilience becomes our greatest asset. At NDRMF, we believe in fostering a world where every community is equipped to withstand the impacts of climate change, creating a future of strength and sustainability. Unless it is negotiated proactively, all our efforts will be wasted. He further highlighted that COP-28 conference would focus five key agendas mainly Loss and Damage Fund architecture and its operationalization, first Global Stock Take (GST) report, mitigation work program, global goal on adaptation and climate finance.
Key areas of focus in the COP 28 agenda include Loss and Damage, Climate Finance, and the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP). Recognizing Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, the dialogue aimed to gather input from diverse stakeholders to frame Pakistan’s agenda effectively.
The U.A.E.’s commitment to making COP28 a “COP for all and a COP of action” was underscored, with a focus on integrating private sector stakeholders into discussions alongside government leaders.
