A critical meeting of the National Climate Change Authority (NCCA) was convened in the capital to assess the progress of Pakistan’s national climate change policy. The focus of the discussion was on boosting climate resilience in essential socio-economic sectors such as energy, water, agriculture, and public infrastructure, all of which are increasingly threatened by climate change impacts.
Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, highlighted the key sectors addressed during the meeting. He stressed the necessity for collaboration between federal and provincial bodies to confront climate challenges like floods, heatwaves, shifting rainfall patterns, and groundwater depletion. The session also examined strategies for enhancing adaptive capacity in response to threats such as glacial lake outburst floods and changing river flows.
The meeting emphasized the importance of coordinating current and future projects aimed at reducing climate risks and improving resilience, in accordance with Pakistan’s international commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Romina Khurshid Alam, the prime minister’s coordinator on climate change, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to prioritizing climate resilience. She acknowledged Pakistan’s increased vulnerability to extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, and glacial melt, underscoring the urgency for action.
Earlier in the meeting, Aisha Humera Moriani, secretary of the Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Ministry, pointed out Pakistan’s growing climate vulnerability. She remarked that while the country contributes very little to global greenhouse gas emissions, it is still among the most affected by climate-related disasters, ranking high on global vulnerability indices.
The discussions wrapped up with a strong call for immediate action, enhanced collaboration, and ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s adaptive measures against the escalating threat of climate change.
