ISLAMABAD: The National Climate Change Authority on Sunday convened a meeting to assess the implementation of measures under the National Climate Change Policy aimed at enhancing resilience across key sectors such as energy, water, agriculture and public infrastructure.

The review was part of the ongoing efforts to address growing threats posed by climate change, Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination’s spokesperson Mohammad Saleem Shaikh said in a statement.

The meeting focused on fostering collaboration between federal and provincial entities to combat climate-related challenges, including floods, heatwaves, glacial lake outburst floods, erratic rainfall patterns, fluctuating river flows and groundwater depletion.

The participants discussed both ongoing and future projects, with the goal of aligning national efforts with international climate commitments, including obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam emphasised the government’s dedication to enhancing Pakistan’s resilience in the face of climate change.

“Recognising the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, floods, droughts and glacial melt, the government is committed to safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of the population using all available resources,” she said.

Earlier in the meeting, the ministry’s secretary, Aisha Humera Moriani, underscored Pakistan’s position as one of the countries most affected by climate change, despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions.

She stressed that the government was actively responding to these risks in line with national policies, international obligations and regional initiatives aimed at building climate resilience, especially in the most vulnerable and impoverished regions.

The meeting, attended by key officials from the National Climate Change Authorityand provincial authorities, also discussed strategies for the country’s transition towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient future.

A roadmap for prioritising climate action was agreed upon, emphasising coordinated efforts between provinces and relevant stakeholders to accelerate resilience-building efforts across the nation.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2024