COP27 platform

That Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been made vice-chairperson for the 27th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) is an important global decision in light of recent climate-related disasters occurring across the world.

It shows the world community has heard our plea and is willing to highlight the plight of developing countries currently reeling from terrible climate-induced economic and humanitarian crises. But more importantly, it also marks a possible shift in the global world order, as weak countries are increasingly asking for reparations from the First World to disgorge the fruits of historical injustices.

For Pakistan, the title of vice-chairperson in many ways is a symbolic success of ramping up global awareness in the light of recent floods that inundated one third of the country and left millions displaced.

Over the past many years, Pakistan has shown strong commitment in the fight against climate change. During Imran Khan’s tenure, Pakistan was able to achieve international acclaim for various initiatives including the Billion Tree Tsunami.

The incumbent coalition government has also been successfully pushing the agenda forward and calling for climate accountability at major events — apart from initiating sustainable projects such as the Living Indus project. It is now time for Pakistan to lead the climate discourse on the biggest stage.

For this, the Prime Minister must protect the interest of vulnerable countries and have a clear agenda on how the world must move forward to cope with this unprecedented global threat. The idea of reparations and accountability should be at the forefront.

That being said, it is equally important to realise that time is against us. Pakistan can no longer wait for delayed and sluggish global response as things need to radically change at the earliest. Stern demands should be put forth