Breathe Pakistan: A Climate Conference was held on February 6-7 at Islamabad. It was a significant international climate change conference organized by Dawn Media Group. The event aimed to address Pakistan’s pressing climate vulnerabilities and lay the groundwork for a climate-resilient future for the nation by 2047.
Key Highlights of the Breathe Pakistan Conference:
* Objective: The primary goal was to raise awareness, stimulate action, and foster collaborations on climate solutions, with a strong emphasis on mobilizing climate finance for Pakistan, which is the 5th most climate-vulnerable nation globally.
* Participants: The conference brought together a diverse group of nearly 100 experts from across the globe, including policymakers, private sector leaders, international experts, government bodies, corporate leaders, and innovators. Key partners included the United Nations, the Government of Punjab, and KPK.
* Themes and Discussions: The agenda featured over 15 dynamic sessions with more than 90 speakers from 11 countries. Discussions revolved around critical themes such as:
* Climate Finance: A central focus was on the urgent need to mobilize international funds and build institutional capacity to attract climate finance, given Pakistan’s estimated need of nearly $380 billion by 2030 to become climate-resilient.
* Climate Justice: Addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable nations like Pakistan, which contribute less to environmental damage but are severely affected.
* Adaptation and Sustainable Governance: Strategies for adapting to climate change impacts and integrating climate policies into national frameworks.
* Regional Cooperation: Initiating dialogues between Pakistan and its neighboring countries to develop regional solutions to mitigate climate change effects.
* Air Pollution: Acknowledging the severe air quality issues, particularly highlighted by related initiatives like “Breathe: Lahore” (an artwork and symposium raising awareness of air pollution in Lahore).
* Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Systems: Discussing the dual role of agriculture as both a contributor to and victim of climate change, and the need for modernizing practices.
* Women Empowerment: A session dedicated to empowering women to fight climate change.
* Public-Private Partnerships: Discussions on fostering collaborations between government and corporate sectors for a new blueprint for climate resilience.
* Youth Engagement: Exploring the potential of youth involvement in agro-processing and food technology sectors.
* Prominent Speakers: The event featured high-profile speakers, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Minister of Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, Senior Pusine Judge Supreme Court of Pakistan Mansoor Ali Shah, Resident Representative Pakistan, United Nations Development Programme Dr. Samuel Rizk, Global Director for Climate Change, World Bank Group Valerie Hickey, and former Governor State Bank of Pakistan Salim Raza, among others.
* Outcome: The conference concluded with a strong call for urgent, multisectoral action to combat the escalating climate crisis. Participants emphasized the need for swift, coordinated efforts at global, regional, and local levels to secure a sustainable future for Pakistan. The event aimed to bridge governance gaps and unlock resources for climate action.
In essence, the “Breathe Pakistan” event in Islamabad served as a crucial platform for national and international stakeholders to converge, share insights, and strategize actionable solutions to enhance Pakistan’s climate resilience and address the pressing environmental challenges it faces.
