United Nations (Web Desk/Agencies): Separately, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Wednesday urged the world to extend financial and technical support to developing countries like Pakistan to help them achieve ambitions on climate change.
He was addressing a high-level dialogue on Financing for Development on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
"Pakistan's developed country partners must fulfil their pledge to provide $100 billion annually in climate finance", Kakar said while addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit Leader's Dialogue titled "Mobilising finance and investments and the means of implementation for SDG achievement".
He said that the country will seek climate justice at the forthcoming CoP28 Summit.
The prime minister welcomed the inclusion of many proposals advanced by Pakistan and other developing countries in the SDG Summit Political Declaration.
Separately, addressing the Climate Ambition Summit 2023, on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UNGA, PM Kakar urged all nations to raise their climate ambitions, regardless of their statuses and geographical locations.
He told the international community that the adverse impact of climate change continued to rise in frequency and intensity, disproportionately affecting developing countries.
"Pakistan is a prime example. Despite contributing less than one percent to global warming, we are among the top ten vulnerable countries. The unprecedented floods of last year illustrated this vulnerability but these may just be the tip of the iceberg unless we arrest this global warming," he remarked.
PM Kakar thanked the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for active solidarity and mobilization of global support after the floods.
He said due to its “well-established” climate vulnerability, the adaptation was a “critical” priority for Pakistan.
The premier said that Pakistan adopted the first-ever National Adaptation Plan to build climate resilience that would follow the projection and casting of interventions identified in the said plan.
He said the second phase of the plan would mark preparing for the sector-specific investment framework to serve as a blueprint to translate and identify the adaptation needs into tangible and bankable projects.
PM Kakar also highlighted Pakistan’s "Living Indus Initiative" aimed at restoring the ecological health of the Indus basin.
He said Pakistan took significant steps to enhance the early warning capacity as well as the flood protection plan.
The prime minister said despite its no contribution to global warming, Pakistan chose to be part of the solution by deciding to convert 60 percent of its energy resources to alternative energy by 2030 which would cost around $100 billion to the country.
Citing Quranic verses, the prime minister told the world leaders that Islam promoted responsibility to protect the environment and utilise natural resources efficiently and undertake an equitable approach to nature.
Urging the global community to come up with climate actions and support to the developing countries, the prime minister said, "This will be a litmus test of solidarity and perhaps for the survival of our species on our injured planet."
