ISLAMABAD: Senator Sherry Rehman has stressed on climate adaptability and stronger inter-provincial coordination to address Pakistan’s unique climate vulnerabilities.

At the Pre-COP event hosted by Secours Islamique France and the Institute of Regional Studies here on Thursday, Senator Sherry Rehman showed concern that Pakistan has been ranked as the fifth most climate-vulnerable country globally, despite the fact it produces less than 1 percent of global emissions.

“Adaptation is essential for our survival,” she said. “Pakistan faces a ticking clock, bearing a disproportionate share of climate impacts. Yet, we remain dependent on humanitarian agencies and NGOs to shoulder much of the burden.”

Senator Rehman spoke in her address about Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) programme, the world’s largest housing reconstruction initiative, designed to provide climate-resilient homes to those devastated by recurring floods. With a goal of building 2.1 million homes for over 12 million people, SPHF is a transformative effort, aimed not only at immediate shelter but long-term resilience.

Senator Rehman highlighted SPHF’s focus on critical aspects such as financial inclusion, land ownership for women, and empowering local communities in decision-making for housing construction.

“As of October 2024, over 300,000 houses have been completed under SPHF, demonstrating what we can achieve through collective resilience,” she said.

Addressing the “coordination deficit” that exists between Pakistan’s provincial and district levels, Senator Rehman emphasized how these gaps often worsen during climate crises. While the SPHF has shown positive outcomes in Sindh, she noted that funding for such projects often comes in the form of loans.

The discussion also touched on the role of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the global climate policy agenda. Senator Rehman voiced concerns over the lack of enforceability and monitoring of these pledges, advocating for a shift from mitigation-heavy strategies to more adaptation-focused policies.

“Pakistan needs adaptation foremost to protect its people on the frontlines,” she stressed.

“As much as we need renewable energy for resilience, we cannot escape the growing impacts on the ground if adaptation remains sidelined.”

Senator Rehman raised the unsettling reality that, despite decades of climate summits and pledges, the world is now on a trajectory to exceed a 3°C rise in temperature, far beyond the critical 1.5°C target.

“Big emitters continue to subsidize fossil fuels to the tune of $7 trillion, leading to rising emissions rather than reductions. Developing countries like ours are not the main contributors to global warming, yet we face its harshest impacts,” she said.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2024