Sherry calls for global accountability in climate action ahead of COP29

ISLAMABAD: Senator Sherry Rehman has emphasised the urgent need for global accountability in addressing climate change, arguing countries like Pakistan contribute less than 1 percent to global emissions, they suffer disproportionately from climate impacts.

With a focus on Pakistan’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora (Amendment) Bill, Rehman criticised the failure of global emission reductions despite decades of climate conferences, including the upcoming COP29.

“The NDCs were designed to promote emission reductions, yet we continue to see rising levels globally. This trajectory is unsustainable, and major emitters must be held accountable for their unfulfilled pledges,” she asserted during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, urging for the establishment of Internationally Determined Contributions to support smaller nations grappling with the climate crisis.

Senator Sherry Rehman expressed alarm over the lack of effective measures to curb emissions, citing catastrophic consequences for Pakistan, which is already experiencing severe heatwaves, floods, and erratic weather. She projected that the country would require USD 348 billion by 2030 to meet its sustainability goals. Rehman highlighted that developing countries on the climate frontline must receive support from the international community. She condemned the ongoing financial backing of the fossil fuel industry, noting that global institutions have subsidised fossil fuels with USD 7 trillion.