UK pledges over £55m to help Pakistan fight climate change

A girl holds a placard as she takes part in a demonstration in support of the environmental and climate protection movement 'Fridays for Future' in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 19, 2021. (AFP/File)

• The British High Commissioner says climate change can be ‘catastrophic’ for Pakistan as global climate change summit continues in Glasgow
• Pakistan has been ranked the eighth most vulnerable country to climate change, as experts say it may lose 36 percent of glaciers by the end of the century

ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom has announced more than £55 million of support to help Pakistan tackle climate change as part of the COP26 global climate change summit this week, said the British High Commission in Islamabad on Thursday.
Pakistan has been ranked the eighth most vulnerable country to climate change, as estimates suggest 36 percent of glaciers along the Hindu Kush and Himalayan ranges will disappear by the end of this century.
The British High Commission noted in its statement that 90 percent of the world’s economy was covered by net zero targets, up from less than 30 percent when the UK took on the presidency of COP26.
It added this would also help the most vulnerable countries like Pakistan.
“The new funding for climate change in Pakistan is split into three parts,” it announced. “A 5-year climate resilience programme – worth £38 million – will help Pakistan’s poorest communities to protect themselves from the changing climate; a 5-year water governance programme – worth £15 million – will make water use in Pakistan more sustainable and water access fairer; [and] an additional £2.5 million to support new ways of attracting much needed climate investment to Pakistan, including on the development of a Nature Performance Bond.”
The statement added that the British High Commissioner was also going to announce the urgently needed new programs at a high-level reception.
“For Pakistan, climate change could be catastrophic,” British High Commissioner Dr. Christian Turner was quoted as saying in the statement. “That is why we are working together on trees and finance, and mobilising leading Pakistani businesses. This £55m new funding will ensure Pakistan becomes more resilient to climate impacts, with more sustainable water use and greater access to climate finance, so improving lives and livelihoods.”
The UK is already working on several environmental initiatives with Pakistan. These include a campaign to have 26 Pakistani companies commit to halving emissions by 2030 and getting to net zero by 2050 and making its government join more than 100 countries to pledge to end and reverse deforestation by 2030.
The British High Commission said the UK had been working closely with Pakistan on climate change even before COP26 and would provide £7 million this year to help the country achieve its climate change objectives.