From early negotiations in the 1990s to major milestones such as the Bali Action Plan, the Cancun Adaptation Framework and, most recently, the Loss and Damage Fund at COP28, Pakistan has consistently highlighted its climate vulnerability on the international stage. With COP30 in Brazil expected to finalise key access modalities, Pakistan’s inconsistent diplomatic engagement risks undermining its ability to secure its fair share of climate financing.
Yet Pakistan’s challenges extend far beyond international negotiations. At the domestic level, outdated local governance systems, many stemming from colonial-era legislation, lack the capacity and resources needed to respond effectively to climate emergencies. Local governments remain the weakest link in Pakistan’s climate response, hampered by political interference and poor coordination. Karachi’s shelved Climate Action Plan is a prime example of how bureaucratic inertia and weak local decision-making can impede climate resilience. If local governments remain disempowered, climate adaptation will continue to exist only on paper.
Pakistan’s academic and policy institutions have also struggled to keep pace with rapidly evolving global climate frameworks. Universities and think tanks must take a more proactive role in promoting climate literacy and evidence-based policymaking. Additionally, there is an urgent need to engage Pakistan’s youth — who make up two-thirds of the population — in meaningful climate action.
Tahira Memon
Khairpur Mirs
