Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Urge World for #ClimateJustice for Pakistan at #COP27

Islamabad: Pakistan delegation led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in #Egypt to participate in the “Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit”, taking place as part of the 27th UN #ClimateChange Conference with the key aim of ensuring full implementation of the #Paris Agreement.

At the invitation of Egyptian Presidency of #COP27, the Prime Minister will co-chair, along with his Norwegian counterpart, a high-level roundtable discussion on “Climate Change and the sustainability of vulnerable communities”.

According to official sources, Prime Minister will also participate in other high-level events as a speaker, including the UN Secretary General’s roundtable to launch ‘Early Warning Systems for Executive Action Plan’, and the ‘Middle East Green Initiative Summit’, today, being hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

The #COP27 is taking place at a time when millions of people in Pakistan and millions more in other parts of the world are facing severe adverse impacts of #ClimateChange.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a tweet said, as Chair of G-77, he will urge the world to deliver on its commitment on #ClimateFinance and loss and damage fund.

He said the #COP27 being held in Egypt can be a watershed in humanity’s fight against climate change and global warming. “Extreme climatic events in Pakistan and Horn of Africa this year have showcased globalisation of climate change, Prime Minister said.

Officials, experts, spokesperson of Foreign Minister and Environmentalist hope Prime Minister will urge world to deliver on its commitment on climate finance at #COP27.

Rana Ihsaan Afzal, Coordinator to Prime Minister on Commerce stated: “The 27th UN Climate Change Conference is going to be held in Egypt and Pakistan will strongly present its case in the summit. The devastation caused in Pakistan due to the massive flooding is the result of climate change. Pakistan is a contributor of less than 1% in global carbon omissions. The developed countries and the countries with heavy industrial growth are responsible for global pollution. It is the right of the developing countries to demand compensation as we are paying the price of industrialization of other countries. We are hopeful that the responsible countries will definitely compensate the developing countries. There should be no sanctions on the developing countries for the industrial growth in future”.

Zulfikar Ali Bader, Spokesperson, Foreign Minister, in his remarks said: “The foreign minister used the term “Climate Justice” for the first time and it means that we are not asking for aid, but demanding our rights. Pakistan has a very small contribution in global carbon emissions yet it is among the most vulnerable countries affected by climate change. The UN Secretary General during his visit to Pakistan asked that polluters must pay for the escalating damage caused by heat waves, floods and other climate impacts. The Foreign Minister during his visits to the world capitals strongly presented the case of Pakistan. The developed countries of the world, who are responsible for environmental damage, must remember that the building of their development is standing on the destruction of the developing countries”.

Dr. Ejaz Ahmed, an Environmentalist noted that: “Although, Pakistan is contributing less than 1% in global pollution, yet it is among the 10 most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. The entire lifestyle in the country has changed. The agriculture, life of people, livestock and other sectors are seeing changes. The Prime Minister will participate in the 27th UN Climate Change Conference and it is the right time that Pakistan presents and advocates its case in front of the world. The world must come up with some mechanism in order to compensate the developing countries that are badly affected due to the climate change. Pakistan’s recent floods and the devastation they caused will likely be quoted as one of the major examples of climate change. The overall weather pattern in our country has changed”.

Waheed Ahmed, Former Ambassador believes “The world needs to realize the gravity of the situation and must take measures to deal with the impacts of climate change. In the UN session held last September there was a feeling that Pakistan is among the worst victims of climate change. The world is well aware of this fact, but unfortunately we may not get as much compensation as we need. The UNDP report is an eye opener that predicts a huge rise in temperature in Pakistan in a decade or so. The need of the hour is to plant as much trees as possible. Tree plantation is the only way to minimize the temperature and impacts of climate change”.

Officials believe, during bilateral meetings with several world leaders on the margins of the Summit, Prime Minister will urge the world to deliver on its commitment on climate finance, ask for climate justice for #Pakistan.

The UN climate summit, #COP27, opened in Sharm El Sheikh, #Egypt on Sunday amid growing calls for rich countries to compensate poorer nations most vulnerable to #ClimateChange.

Delegates including political leaders, business icons of corporations, diplomats, and environmentalists from more than 130 countries are expected to push for the creation of a dedicated loss and damage finance facility at #COP27

Much of the tension surrounding #COP27 is expected to relate to loss and damage — compensation funds provided by wealthy nations to vulnerable lower-income countries that bear little responsibility for climate-warming emissions.

Delegates will begin the two-week negotiation process by approving the conference agenda during the opening plenary session, with all eyes on whether wealthier nations agree to have the compensation listed formally on the agenda.

By : M.A