By 
13-11-24
Chiara Bellini
Team Pakistan Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence.
On Wednesday, November 13th, 2024, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave a speech at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), which is currently being held in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital. The Prime Minister stressed Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change and exposure to natural disasters (Dawn, 2024). Indeed, Pakistan was ranked among the ten most affected countries by extreme weather events from 2000 to 2019 by the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index (Germanwatch, 2021). To elaborate, the Prime Minister recalled the devastating effects of the monsoon floods of 2022, consisting of over 1700 deaths, 33 million people affected, and of economic damages amounting to $30 billion (The News International, 2024). In this context, the Prime Minister remarked the urgency of the fulfilment of the financial pledges undertaken by the international community during the 2022 Climate Change Summit (COP27), which established a loss and damage fund to aid countries facing natural catastrophes and to foster resilience (Dawn, 2024).
Pakistan has also taken a step forward achieving a renewable energy revolution, set to take place by the end of the decade, through the adoption of a National Adaptation Plan and a National Carbon Market Framework (Dawn, 2024). These measures should lead to producing 60 percent of all energy from green energy sources (Dawn, 2024). However, it is estimated that developing countries will require more than $6 trillion by 2030 to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions, as established by the Paris Agreement (Geo News, 2024). Hence, the Prime Minister stressed that these commitments cannot be achieved without the financial support of developed countries, as climate change becomes unstoppable and the transition to clean energy indispensable (Geo News, 2024).
Sources and further readings:
Eckstein, D., Künzel, V., & Schäfer, L. (2021). Global Climate Risk Index 2021: Who suffers Most from Extreme Weather Events? Weather-related Loss Events in 2019 and 2000 to 2019. Germanwatch
‘No resilience sans climate justice’, PM tells COP29 Climate Action Summit. (2024, November 13). Geo News. Retrieved on November 13, 2024, from https://www.geo.tv/latest/574164-pm-shehbaz-sharif-addresses-cop29s-climate-action-summit
Pakistan hails ‘pivotal step’ as countries adopt COP27 deal with ‘loss and damage’ fund. (2022, November 20). Dawn. Retrieved on November 13, 2024, from https://www.dawn.com/news/1722046
Pakistan pushes for fulfilment of previous climate change pledges at COP29 summit. (2024, November 13). The News International. Retrieved on November 13, 2024, from https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1250568-pm-shehbaz-addresses-cop29-climate-action-summit
Previous financial pledges on climate change yet to materialise, PM Shehbaz tells COP29 summit. (2024, November 13). Dawn. Retrieved on November 13, 2024, from https://www.dawn.com/news/1872112/previous-financial-pledges-on-climate-change-yet-to-materialise-pm-shehbaz-tells-cop29-summit
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