NEW YORK: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, in his address at the Climate Ambition Summit 2023 on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, called upon the international community to offer financial and technical aid to developing nations, including Pakistan, in their endeavors to combat climate change.
Prime Minister Kakar appealed to all nations, irrespective of their status or geographical location, to elevate their climate ambitions. He emphasized that the adverse impacts of climate change were becoming more frequent and severe, disproportionately affecting developing countries. Despite contributing less than one percent to global warming, Pakistan, he noted, was among the top ten vulnerable nations.
Prime Minister Kakar expressed gratitude to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the global support extended after last year’s devastating floods. He underscored the critical importance of adaptation for Pakistan and highlighted the country’s adoption of its inaugural National Adaptation Plan to bolster climate resilience.
He also shed light on Pakistan’s “Living Indus Initiative,” aimed at rejuvenating the ecological health of the Indus basin, as well as efforts to enhance early warning and flood protection systems. Additionally, Pakistan had committed to transitioning 60 percent of its energy resources to alternative sources by 2030, an endeavor estimated at around $100 billion.
Drawing from Quranic verses, the prime minister stressed Islam’s promotion of environmental responsibility and efficient utilization of natural resources. He called upon the global community to take climate action and extend support to developing countries, emphasizing that this would serve as a test of solidarity and, potentially, the survival of humanity on an increasingly fragile planet.
