Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar Ul Haq Kakar delivered a speech at the 28th Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations in Dubai, where he underscored the critical need for developed nations to provide substantial and dependable financial support to assist developing countries in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
A major point of emphasis in Kakar’s address was the urgency of fulfilling the committed $100 billion for climate finance. He stressed that this financial assistance should be provided in the form of grants, rather than loans, and should not come at the expense of development finance. Importantly, Kakar highlighted the potential risk of increasing the already high debt burden carried by many developing nations.
Kakar called upon developed countries to take a leading role in global efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and to support developing nations in their own mitigation and adaptation initiatives.
He advocated for setting clear targets and establishing a system for regular monitoring of progress. Notably, Kakar proposed that at least half of the allocated climate finance should be dedicated to helping countries adapt to the changing climate.
In emphasizing the severity of climate change as an existential threat, Prime Minister Kakar referenced Pakistan’s recent experience with super floods and the alarming projection that the current year would be the hottest on record.
He used these examples to highlight the immediate and tangible consequences of climate change that nations, particularly developing ones, are grappling with.
Pakistan’s commitment to climate action was underlined by Kakar, who shared details of the country’s comprehensive national adaptation plan. Additionally, he introduced the Living Indus initiative, an innovative approach to address climate-related challenges.
Kakar drew attention to Pakistan’s efforts in establishing a global loss and damage fund. He urged COP28, under the leadership of the UAE, to activate support for climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building for developing nations.
He emphasized the principles of equity and differentiated responsibilities, advocating for a fair distribution of responsibilities among nations.
The Prime Minister stressed the concept of climate justice, highlighting its importance in enabling developing nations to achieve their sustainable development goals. In essence, Kakar’s speech called for collective global action, with developed nations taking a proactive role in supporting developing countries in their fight against climate change while ensuring fairness and justice in the process.
