- Advertisement -
ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (APP): A high-level panel convened by Secours Islamique France (SIF) Mission Pakistan ahead of COP30, warned that climate justice for vulnerable nations like Pakistan requires both global accountability and stronger community-owned systems at home.
Secours Islamique France (SIF) Mission Pakistan organized COP-30 panel discussion on “Advancing Climate Justice and Community”, where the experts from humanitarian agencies, research institutes and international organisations urged that climate finance must move from pledges to practice as Pakistan faces escalating climate shocks, said a press release on Tuesday.
Dr Altaf Abro, Head of Mission SIF Pakistan, said climate change for Pakistan is no longer an abstract debate but a daily reality.
He noted that Pakistan remains among the top ten most climate-vulnerable countries, confronting heatwaves, droughts, floods and wildfires at a pace faster than global negotiations.
He stressed that the global South needed a clean and just energy transition, along with fair access to adaptation finance, as farmers lost livelihoods and children lost future opportunities.
He added that the loss and damage fund has only 300 million dollars with no clear protocol on disbursement, while major emitters are not part of COP30.
Thomas Canon, Deputy Country Director WFP Pakistan, said COPs are defined by hopes and disappointments but insisted that Pakistan can still secure meaningful climate finance.
He noted that while commitments were made in billions, only a fraction materialises.
Ensuring transparency in financing frameworks, he said, is essential so funds reach communities to build resilience, improve infrastructure and strengthen social protection.
Canon warned that a single degree rise in global temperature could push millions of more Pakistanis into food insecurity.
Syed Javed Gillani, Executive Director Muslim Hands, said COP gatherings risk becoming talking platforms unless they create tangible relief for affected nations.
Countries benefiting from industrialisation must support those bearing the climate burden, he argued.
Gillani stressed that Pakistan must pitch its projects strategically and adopt a locally owned climate adaptation system driven by communities and NGOs.
He warned that commitments made at previous summits have yielded little and urged Pakistan to align domestic priorities with available international resources.
Migration to cities, he added, was creating sprawling urban slums and heightening health risks.
Dr Anjum Rasheed, Head of Climate Resilience Program at IRS, said COP30 is centred on climate justice and operationalising the loss and damage fund.
She highlighted that despite concerns, global temperatures are now projected to rise to 2.7°C instead of 4°C, reflecting substantial international effort.
She highlighted that, despite concerns, global temperatures st that moment were projected to rise to 2.7°C instead of 4°C, indicating substantial international effort.
In Pakistan, she said, disasters are fuelling poverty and displacing communities, while urban centres suffer from poor planning as seen in flooding incidents in Islamabad’s E-11 and along the Ravi River.
She called for stronger local governments, evidence-based policymaking and public climate awareness including early warning systems and telecom-based alert messages.
Raza Narejo, Deputy Country Director Islamic Relief Pakistan, said more than 70 million Pakistanis have been displaced by recurring disasters with no comprehensive rehabilitation record.
He emphasised local preparedness over reliance on global aid and highlighted the need for universities to generate quality research to guide policy.
Communities, he argued, must be better informed about climate risks.
SDPI Research Associate Nelam Pari said Pakistan’s engagement at COP30 highlighted major national gaps in risk-based urban planning and resilience building.
From Gilgit-Baltistan to KP, communities lack climate-adaptive systems.
She stressed that women and girls were disproportionately affected during recent floods due to gaps in WASH and health facilities. Risk-based social protection, predictable finance flows, and direct allocation of funds to local authorities are essential, she said, as communities best understand their vulnerabilities.
During the Q/A session, Javed Gillani among others reiterated that strategy must guide climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, backed by strong governance and enforcement of environmental regulations. Pakistan’s advocacy, he said, reflects not only national concerns but global stakes.
In closing remarks, Raza Hussain Qazi, Communication and Advocacy Manager SIF Pakistan, noted that the newly released Climate Risk Index 2026 underscores Pakistan’s extreme vulnerability despite contributing less than one percent to global emissions.
He said the country now oscillates between prolonged droughts and intense rainfall cycles.
Localised public-private partnerships, he added, offer a promising pathway for climate adaptation and mitigation as Pakistan seeks climate justice on both international and national fronts.