The Prime Minister urges the activation of the Loss and Damage Fund to address the challenges posed by climate change.
On Thursday, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar emphasized the urgency of promptly activating the Loss & Damage Fund. He underscored the importance of utilizing the fund based on merit to effectively address the challenges posed by climate change. Additionally, Kakar emphasized that the Fund should be disconnected from development funds and loans from multilateral lenders. He highlighted that climate change is no longer merely a fashionable topic for discussion, especially considering its severe impact on Pakistan in the previous year.
On Thursday, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar emphasized the immediate operationalization of the Loss & Damage Fund, emphasizing its use based on merit to address climate change issues. He highlighted that the Fund's utilization should not be linked to development funds or loans from multilateral financial entities but should be additional and tangible.
In an interview with CNN during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP28, Kakar shared that Pakistan's current focus is transitioning from coal-based power plants to renewable energy projects. This shift aims to contribute to minimizing climate change impacts in the region and beyond, presenting an opportunity for cooperation with countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Western democracies.
The Prime Minister emphasized that climate change is no longer a fashionable topic but a harsh reality, particularly evident in Pakistan's significant challenges last year. He noted that Pakistan bears a historical devastation burden in provinces like Sindh and Balochistan, despite not being primarily responsible for the climate disaster. He called for an honest conversation rather than passing judgment, expressing the importance of wealthy nations taking responsibility.
Addressing the operationalization of the Fund, Kakar suggested that waiting for a UN framework would take an extended period. Instead, he proposed the initial operationalization under entities like the World Bank and other multilateral organizations.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar is set to lead the Pakistani delegation in the high-level segment of COP 28. He will attend the World Climate Action Summit on December 1 and 2, delivering a national statement on the latter date. Meetings with various world leaders are expected on the sidelines of the conference. Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, Caretaker Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Caretaker Minister for Climate Change Ahmed Irfan Aslam, and Caretaker Energy Minister Muhammad Ali will also participate in COP 28.
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