Islamabad: The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) organized a pre-COP29 panel discussion titled ‘Bridging the Gap: Humanitarian/Development Agencies and Climate Adaptation in Pakistan,’ where Senator Sherry Rehman stressed that climate financing for developing countries should be a priority at COP29. She urged major emitters to honor their Internationally Determined Contributions (IDCs) and advocated for a Global Goal on Adaptation that channels funding into practical, on-ground adaptation initiatives, especially for flood-prone regions.
Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, highlighted the importance of COP29 in advancing climate adaptation efforts and securing essential funding for the Global South. He called for decentralized approaches tailored to local contexts to meet diverse climate challenges effectively, sharing IRS’s commitment to developing recommendations through ongoing pre-COP discussions.
Key voices from development and humanitarian organizations added insights on adaptation strategies. Dr. Altaf Abro from Secours Islamique France (SIF) stressed the value of connecting development and humanitarian funds for effective resilience, while Dr. Samuel Rizk from UNDP Pakistan highlighted population growth and worsening climate impacts as factors intensifying vulnerabilities for marginalized communities.
Bilal Anwar, CEO of the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF), emphasized transformative adaptation initiatives and resource mobilization, incorporating indigenous practices to enhance climate resilience. Additional speakers, including Muhammad Arif Goheer from GCISC and Isabel Bogorinsky from Welthungerhilfe Pakistan, discussed the urgent need for climate-smart agriculture and improved food security measures.
The event drew a wide array of national and international experts, policymakers, and leaders from development and humanitarian organizations, providing a platform for exchanging strategies to tackle climate change and its impacts on Pakistan.
