Developing climate change strategy

ISLAMABAD: In November 2022, Egypt will host the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27). Proper preparation for this conference is of utmost importance. Pakistan’s recent floods and the devastation they caused will likely be quoted as one of the major examples of climate change.
It will be critical to send a high-level delegation such as the one that recently participated in the UN General Assembly. The delegation was able to garner considerable financial support for the flood victims.
The need is to convert those promises into practical measures. As part of separate meetings, US President Joe Biden and his top aides, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry, expressed the willingness to assist Pakistan in rebuilding a resilient infrastructure that can help prevent future crises.
The heads of financial institutions expressed similar sentiment. World Bank President David Malpass emphasised that Pakistan must be prioritised for resilient reconstruction, agriculture, rural and urban development, and social services. As a first step, he committed to repurposing $850 million immediately to help Pakistan with its flood relief efforts. The IMF has also agreed to release $1.17 billion to rehabilitate the flood-affected people.
The most prominent champion for Pakistan’s cause is Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General. After seeing the deaths and destruction caused by the floods during his recent visit to Pakistan, he called for several remedial measures. While referring to Pakistan, “which is drowning not only in floodwater but in debt”, he asked for an effective mechanism of debt relief. Furthermore, echoing calls from many developing countries and climate activists, the UN secretarygeneral asked that “polluters must pay” for the escalating damage caused by heat waves, floods and other climate impacts. He asked countries to impose taxes on the windfall profits of fossil fuel companies and divert the money to vulnerable nations suffering worsening losses from the climate crisis. Many commentators in Pakistan are also asking the government to seek compensation from developed countries as they are responsible for global warming. Although the “loss and damage” is likely be a key issue at the next climate summit, it will not be advisable for Pakistan to go through this route at this stage for two reasons. First, so far the developed countries completely reject the notion of reparations. Except for Denmark, which has promised $13.5 million to be spent through NGOs in countries that suffered the most from climate-related damages, no other country has agreed to do so.-Agencies