Islamabad: The Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, chaired by Ms. Munaza Hassan, convened on October 10, 2024, to scrutinize Pakistan’s readiness for the upcoming COP 29 conference. The meeting served as a critical platform for evaluating the country’s strategic plans and initiatives in tackling global climate challenges.

According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the Ministry of Climate Change provided an in-depth briefing on Pakistan’s participation at COP 29, outlining a series of daily events planned for the Pakistan Pavilion that will focus on climate justice, energy transition, and gender-responsive climate policies. Notable projects such as Living Indus and Recharge Pakistan were highlighted as key components of Pakistan’s strategy for climate adaptation and sustainability.

However, the session also brought to light several concerns raised by committee members regarding the slow pace of approving carbon credit guidelines and the need for enhanced engagement from the private sector and provincial governments. Chairperson Ms. Hassan urged the Ministry to deliver a detailed cost analysis for COP 29, questioning the return on investment from previous participations and calling for specifics on delegation size, accommodation, and overall expenditures.

The committee emphasized the need for greater transparency in financial planning for COP 29 and requested a comprehensive report on all approved climate projects, including budget, location, and progress status. They also sought a post-COP analysis to gauge the effectiveness of Pakistan’s participation.

The meeting concluded with a resolution to ensure that Pakistan’s initiatives at COP 29 genuinely reflect progress in climate resilience and financing, aiming to demonstrate innovation and leadership in the global climate response. The committee also decided to defer the discussion of “The Pakistan Environmental Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2024” to the next meeting.

Attended by multiple MNAs and senior ministry officials, the session underscored a collective commitment to enhancing Pakistan’s impact at the forthcoming COP 29, focusing on actionable outcomes that address the pressing challenges of climate change.