LocationsPre-COP29 Dialogue in Islamabad highlights national and subnational perspectives ahead of COP29
October 29, 2024
Islamabad, 29 October 2024 — The Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change (CSCCC), in cooperation with the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) and with support from UNDP Pakistan, convened a comprehensive day-long dialogue titled “Pre-COP29 Dialogue: National and Subnational Perspectives,” as part of its preparations for COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The event brought together representatives from the national and subnational governments, international organizations, multilateral development banks, experts, academia, civil society, and media to explore the complexities and challenges surrounding two key COP29 pillars: enhancing ambition and enabling action, with a strong emphasis on climate finance.
Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, speaks at the event via video link.
In her keynote address, the Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, reaffirmed Pakistan’s call for a reformed Global Financial Architecture to support vulnerable countries. “The needs of developing countries range from $400 billion to $1 trillion, and this finance must flow from the Global North to the Global South,” she stated. The Additional Secretary (In-charge) of MoCC&EC, Ms. Aisha Humera Chaudhry, also provided insights into Pakistan’s strategies for the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) 3.0 and the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) in the lead-up to COP29, outlining the ministry’s commitment to aligning national ambitions to these international goals. She further shared details of the 30+ events planned by Pakistan at COP29.
Senator Ms. Sherry Rehman speaks at the event.
Former Minister for Climate Change, Senator Ms. Sherry Rehman, emphasized that Pakistan needs a focused, goal-oriented agenda for COP29. “We cannot afford to approach COP29 with ‘business as usual.’ Instead, Pakistan should build alliances with like-minded partners such as the G77+China to hold developed countries accountable for their emissions and to secure the financing commitments that developing countries need,” she urged.
The event also featured three focused panel discussions, allowing experts and policymakers to delve deeper into Pakistan’s climate priorities and strategies for COP29.
UNDP Pakistan’s Resident Representative Dr. Samuel Rizk praised Pakistan’s initial NDC commitments, while highlighting the current global financing challenges. “In this climate of shrinking finance, the world needs multilateral solidarity more than ever to push for bold, accelerated action,” he noted, emphasizing that civil society organizations are instrumental in supporting global climate solidarity from the grassroots level.
UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative Dr. Samuel Rizk delivering his address.
In his keynote, Dr. Ishrat Hussain, Former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, underscored the dual imperative of climate action and economic development. “Failing to execute a climate change agenda could have devastating effects on the global economy, but climate action also represents a unique opportunity for sustainable growth,” he said. He also stressed that climate finance must support poverty reduction and development, with effective governance and strong institutional structures as crucial for achieving these goals.
Dr. Ishrat Hussain, Former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, delivers his keynote address.
A detailed policy brief highlighting the key policy recommendations from the dialogue will be released and shared with government stakeholders to guide Pakistan’s climate action strategies ahead of COP29.
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Contact details:
For additional details, please contact Fizza Bangash at fizza.bangash@undp.org or +92 (51) 835 5631
About UNDP:
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.
Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP
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