UNDP collaborates to boost climate resilience

New initiative to provide technical, financial protection for vulnerable communities

ISLAMABAD:

Deputy Resident Representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan, Van Nguyen, called on the Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, MNA Romina Khurshid Alam, on Thursday. The coordinator praised the programme’s financial and technical support in addressing the climate crisis.

During the meeting at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, they discussed climate risk mitigation, climate finance for adaptation and mitigation measures, agriculture insurance, and urban flood resilience, according to a news release. Nguyen also briefed the PM’s aide about the Global Shield against Climate Risks initiative, aimed at closing protection gaps in climate-vulnerable countries like Pakistan using pre-arranged finance.

Nguyen explained that the Vulnerable Twenty Group (V20), in collaboration with the Group of Seven (G7) and other supporting countries, launched the initiative to provide more and better pre-arranged protection against climate and disaster-related risks for vulnerable populations in high-risk countries.

“The Global Shield against Climate Risks initiative offers immediate, trigger-based financial resources to respond to disasters efficiently and effectively, benefiting the economy, businesses, and communities in the most climate-vulnerable countries,” Nguyen elaborated.

She underscored that the initiative aims to provide comprehensive support to understand climate risks and impacts, offering innovative solutions to address losses and damages caused by climate change. The initiative also focuses on grant-based financial and technical assistance to develop and implement solutions for the financial protection of vulnerable communities linked with climate change adaptation efforts.

Nguyen assured Alam of UNDP’s full support in accessing the financial and technical assistance provided by the initiative to enhance the country’s climate resilience.