Islamabad (Khyber Mail): Pakistan and Norway have called for strengthened international cooperation to address climate vulnerabilities during a high-level meeting held in Islamabad. The dialogue, attended by Pakistan’s Coordinator to the Prime Minister for Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam, and former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, focused on sustainable solutions to combat the impacts of climate change.

Alam highlighted Pakistan’s struggle with heatwaves, floods, and droughts, which have disproportionately affected women and adolescent girls, particularly in terms of mental health. She pointed to the 2022 floods as a devastating example, causing mass displacement in Sindh and Balochistan, along with severe financial, social, and health crises.

“Climate change has hit Pakistan hard, placing us among the top five most vulnerable countries globally,” Alam stated. “We are a resilient nation, but we need global cooperation in climate diplomacy to support vulnerable nations like ours.”

Bondevik praised Pakistan’s commitment to addressing climate challenges and offered Norway’s support in transitioning to green energy. Highlighting Norway’s success with electric vehicles (EVs), he pledged to collaborate on implementing sustainable energy technologies in Pakistan.

The meeting also underscored the challenges of accessing climate finance. Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), Aisha Humera Moriani, stressed the importance of financial aid for rehabilitation efforts rather than loans, which strain the national economy.

“We are exploring water desalination technologies and incentivizing clean energy adoption,” Moriani said. “However, immediate financial support is critical for addressing the impacts of heatwaves and glacial melt.”

Bondevik affirmed Norway’s readiness to assist in water conservation and energy transition projects, emphasizing the need for global collaboration to mitigate the long-term effects of climate change.

The dialogue concluded with a commitment to strengthen bilateral ties in climate initiatives and human rights advocacy, highlighting the shared goal of creating sustainable, resilient solutions for vulnerable populations.

By Admin

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Translate »