Pakistan needs $348b to tackle climate impact by 2030, warns Sherry Rehman

The Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, chaired by Senator Sherry Rehman, met Thursday to review Pakistan’s preparations for the upcoming COP 30 climate summit to be held in Brazil, where global discussions will focus on forests, oceans, and environmental financing.

During the briefing, the Secretary for Climate Change informed the committee that Brazil has outlined six priority points for COP 30, placing particular emphasis on forest preservation and ocean protection. He added that Brazil itself is investing billions of dollars in forest conservation initiatives.

When asked whether the Prime Minister would attend the COP 30 conference, the secretary said he could not confirm it at this stage.

Senator Sherry Rehman highlighted Pakistan’s growing environmental challenges, noting that the country has the lowest forest cover in South Asia and that its coastal belt is heavily polluted. She suggested that committee members should visit affected areas to personally assess the situation.

The secretary briefed the committee that Pakistan is currently negotiating with South Korea on carbon credit mechanisms and that the Loss and Damage Fund established under COP agreements will soon become operational. He said a national framework is also being developed for forest restoration and the prevention of illegal logging.

The committee expressed concern over the performance of the Meteorological Department, citing the inaccurate forecast of the August 19 heavy rainfall in Karachi, where precipitation was far greater than predicted nearly equal to the annual average.

Warning of the dire consequences of inaction, Sherry Rehman said that by 2050, rivers could contain more plastic than fish if urgent measures are not taken. She stressed that Pakistan will require $348 billion by 2030 to address the mounting effects of climate change, yet current funding stands at only 6 percent of that need.