Baku: Coordinator to Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam, underscored the pressing need for a collective global effort to safeguard deteriorating ecosystems and the livelihoods of vulnerable communities at the COP29 opening. Addressing the media following the plenary session of the two-week annual UN-led global climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, she stressed that the time to respond to these challenges is rapidly diminishing, leaving no room for climate inaction. Alam leads Pakistan’s delegation at the conference, aiming to underscore Pakistan’s commitment to global climate efforts despite financial constraints.

According to Press Information Department, the 29th annual United Nations climate summit commenced with delegates from nearly 200 countries engaging in critical discussions on finance and trade. This follows a year marked by severe weather events, which have amplified developing countries’ demands for increased funding to address the escalating impacts of climate change. The summit’s primary objective is to secure more financial support for poorer countries, enabling them to reduce emissions and manage the adverse effects of climate change. Alam urged world leaders to fulfill their climate finance commitments to developing nations, emphasizing that the new global climate finance goal is crucial for mitigating the devastating impacts of climate change.

During her media interaction, Alam highlighted the necessity of an ambitious new climate funding target for poorer nations, urging wealthy countries to acknowledge that climate finance is not a form of charity. She articulated that COP29 represents a pivotal opportunity to forge a new path forward for all. She also mentioned that several bilateral and multilateral meetings and events are planned to engage global partners in investing in Pakistan’s climate initiatives, including clean energy, smart agriculture, and water conservation.