Addressing pre-COP event Sherry stresses urgent need for enhanced climate adaptation

ISLAMABAD: Chairperson Senate Committee on Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman stressed the need for scaled-up climate adaptation, stronger inter-provincial coordination, and flexible financing to address Pakistan’s climate vulnerabilities.

Delivering a keynote address on the pressing at the pre-COP event hosted by Secours Islamique France and the Institute of Regional Studies, Senator Sherry Rehman opened her remarks by spotlighting Pakistan’s ranking as the fifth most climate-vulnerable country globally, despite being responsible for less than 1% of global emissions. “Adaptation is essential for our survival,” she said.

“Pakistan faces a ticking clock, bearing a disproportionate share of climate impacts. Yet, we remain dependent on humanitarian agencies and NGOs to shoulder much of the burden.” Senator Sherry Rehman spoke in her address about the Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) program, the world’s largest housing reconstruction initiative designed to provide climate-resilient homes to those devastated by recurring floods. With a goal of building 2.1 million homes for over 12 million people, SPHF is a transformative effort, aimed at immediate shelter and long-term resilience.

Senator Sherry Rehman highlighted SPHF’s focus on critical aspects such as financial inclusion, land ownership for women and empowering local communities in decision-making for housing construction. “As of October 2024, over 300,000 houses have been completed under SPHF, demonstrating what we can achieve through collective resilience,” she said.

Addressing the “coordination deficit” that exists between Pakistan’s provincial and district levels, Sherry Rehman emphasised how these gaps often worsen during climate crises. While the SPHF has shown positive outcomes in Sindh, she noted that funding for such projects often comes in loans, adding economic strain amid inflation and fiscal challenges.

The discussion also touched on the role of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the global climate policy agenda. Senator Rehman voiced concerns about the lack of enforceability and monitoring of these pledges, advocating for a shift from mitigation-heavy strategies to more adaptation-focused policies. “Pakistan needs adaptation foremost to protect its people on the frontlines,” she stressed. “As much as we need renewable energy for resilience, we cannot escape the growing impacts on the ground if adaptation remains sidelined.”

Senator Sherry Rehman raised the unsettling reality that, despite decades of climate summits and pledges, the world is now on a trajectory to exceed a 3°C rise in temperature, far beyond the critical 1.5°C target. “Big emitters continue to subsidize fossil fuels to the tune of $7 trillion, leading to rising emissions rather than reductions. Developing countries like ours are not the main contributors to global warming, yet we face its harshest impacts.”

With global adaptation funding needs reaching $6 trillion for developing countries alone, Senator Sherry Rehman reiterated that Pakistan’s climate adaptation and mitigation efforts would require $348 billion, according to World Bank estimates. “We must ask, where will this investment come from?” she posed, calling for Internationally Determined Contributions (IDCs) from major emitters and advocating for a new Global Goal on Adaptation (NCQG) that is both effective and forward-looking.

Senator Sherry Rehman concluded by reflecting on the broader macroeconomic consequences of climate shocks, noting that the catastrophic 2022 floods had shaved an estimated 8-10% off Pakistan’s GDP. “We cannot turn off the warming, but we can prepare for summers that will increasingly threaten life, growth, and work across our country. Adaptation isn’t just necessary—it’s an ethical and economic obligation.”

Calling for both national and international stakeholders to prioritise actionable, tangible climate solutions, Senator Rehman stated, “The biggest emitters must lead by example, and we must hold them accountable through IDCs. Our communities cannot wait. Pakistan’s vulnerability in a warming world demands a united effort to protect those on the frontlines.”