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ISLAMABAD, Jan 31 (APP): Advisor to the Finance Minister, Khurram Schehzad on Saturday emphasized the urgency of shifting climate governance and climate finance closer to the communities most exposed to climate risks.
He was speaking at High Level Panel session titled ‘Decentralizing Climate Action: Unlocking Local Governments’ Role in Climate Finance’ at ‘Climate Week Karachi 2026’ according to press release issued by finance ministry here.
The advisor noted that while global climate discourse often focuses on pledges and frameworks, climate resilience is ultimately built through execution, access to finance, and delivery at the local level.
The session was jointly organized by the Centre for Business and Economic Research (CBER), IBA and Transparency International Pakistan, with support from the Climate Action Center (CAC).
He highlighted that Pakistan’s climate response must move beyond strategy documents toward practical, scalable financing mechanisms that enable households, farmers, MSMEs, and local governments to invest in resilience.
He highlighted five key climate finance pathways including digital, collateral-free agricultural loans for smallholders; energy transition finance for households and MSMEs; affordable climate-resilient housing loans; outcomes-linked financing to attract private capital; and risk-sharing digital public infrastructure to de-risk banks and boost climate investment.
The panel highlighted a clear and unified message that ‘local governments were not peripheral to climate action – they are central to it’. Climate impacts are experienced locally, and resilience must be built within cities, districts, and communities.