https://arab.news/4deqa
- UAE will host the UN climate conference from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 which will be attended by 70,000 people
- Pakistan wants inclusion of developing nations, instead of just the least developed states, in loss and damage fund
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to set up a pavilion at the UN climate change conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a senior government official in Islamabad announced on Tuesday, to focus on critical issues to help countries worldwide build climate resilience together.
The 28th session of the UN Conference of the Parties (COP 28) is scheduled to be held in Dubai between November 30 and December 12, with around 70,000 attendees expected, including global leaders, academics and youth representatives.
“Our priorities at COP28 include loss and damage fund architecture and operationalization,” Ministry of Climate Change Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah told reporters during a media briefing in Islamabad.
He added that Pakistan was looking forward to the “first global stocktake” to assess the world’s progress on climate action and advance the mitigation work program, which required countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The country also planned to emphasize climate finance, urging other nations to hold developed countries accountable for their commitment to mobilizing $100 billion annually to aid developing states in climate change response.
Shah recalled that last year, following unprecedented monsoon rains and floods that caused massive infrastructure and agricultural losses in Pakistan, his country’s theme at COP27 in Egypt was, “What happened in Pakistan will not stay in Pakistan.”
This year, the slogan is “building resilience together.”
“Pakistan will set up a pavilion at COP28, hosting panel discussions on critical issues,” Shah continued, noting that projects on building climate resilience would be showcased to visitors, with the pavilion’s agenda evolving daily.
He highlighted that COP27 saw an agreement on the loss and damage fund, where Pakistan played a key role.
In Egypt, Pakistan joined other developing nations in advocating for a global fund to address climate-induced disasters.
“Pakistan’s greenhouse gas emissions account for only one percent globally, in contrast to the 64 percent emitted by the five major polluters with greater wealth and global GDP,” Shah said, emphasizing the need for an interim fund that becomes standalone after three years, focusing on developing countries.
He also mentioned that Pakistan intended to argue for the inclusion of developing countries in the loss and damage fund, diverging from developed nations’ focus on the least developed states.
He stressed the importance of adapting measures to respond to and manage climate change impacts, crucial for countries like Pakistan for disaster preparedness and capacity building.
“Climate finance should not only concentrate on mitigation but also emphasize adaptation,” he concluded.