Pakistan needs a long-term commitment to climate strategy

As natural disasters intensify, Islamabad must prioritize resilience and sustainable development

KARACHI:

As diplomats and leaders gather for the latest round of climate talks, the challenge of balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability has become more urgent for the Global South, especially for countries like Pakistan.

With the impacts of climate change increasingly evident, experts argue that nations in the developing world must shift from short-term, politically driven fixes to long-term strategic plans, prioritizing climate-resilient infrastructure, encouraging private sector investment, and redirecting fossil fuel subsidies toward renewable energy.

"For countries vulnerable to environmental disasters, the key to mitigating climate risks lies in long-term planning, not short-term, politically-driven changes. Political leadership and governance are essential, with climate action being a shared responsibility involving the public sector, private sector, and civil society," said Dr Tae Yong Jung, Professor of Sustainable Development at Yonsei University in South Korea.

Jung, who has worked with former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon on climate issues, emphasized the need to view climate action as an economic opportunity—a lesson already embraced by the Global North. "In Pakistan, as in other countries, climate change presents an opportunity for businesses to invest, provided the environment is conducive to such ventures," he added. However, without transparent long-term policy formulation, substantial progress cannot be expected, warned Jung.

Rather than pursuing economic growth at the expense of environmental sustainability, Jung advocates integrating climate resilience into development strategies. Yet, he acknowledged that developing nations face barriers, particularly the high cost of renewable energy and inadequate infrastructure.

Jung called on governments to shift fossil fuel subsidies toward cleaner energy investments, emphasizing that such redirection could accelerate the transition to renewables and narrow the cost gap between traditional and sustainable energy sources.

"While developed nations have implemented innovative financial systems, such as blended financing, to encourage private sector engagement, many countries in the Global South, including Pakistan, remain heavily reliant on fossil fuels," he said in an interview with The Express Tribune at the Sharjah International Book Fair.

The Seoul-based academic argued that for a successful energy transition, Pakistan needs not only financial support from developed nations but also a shift in how climate change is framed—as an opportunity for economic growth, rather than just an environmental concern.

Addressing climate finance, Jung stated that current global aid structures, mainly based on official development assistance (ODA) and multilateral grants, are no longer sufficient. He called for a shift toward innovative financing mechanisms that incorporate the private sector, such as blended financing, which could provide the capital needed for large-scale adaptation projects, especially in infrastructure resilience and biodiversity conservation.

Loss and damage fund

The 2022 floods, which caused over 1,700 deaths and submerged a third of Pakistan's landmass, left an estimated $30 billion in damages. In the aftermath, Pakistan and other developing nations, which have contributed little to climate change but are suffering its worst effects, have intensified calls for compensation. This group argues that wealthier nations, responsible for most historical emissions, should bear the cost of the rising temperatures and extreme weather events ravaging the planet.

While a new UN report calls for wealthy nations to increase climate aid to poorer countries, highlighting a shortfall in adaptation spending, Jung cautioned against overreliance on post-disaster mechanisms like loss and damage funds, which address aftermaths rather than root causes. He advocated for a precautionary approach, urging nations to prioritize building resilience through sustainable infrastructure and enhancing their capacity to manage future environmental shocks. "While external funding will remain necessary, especially in countries like Pakistan, the most sustainable path lies in mobilizing internal resources," he said.

Jung emphasized that wealthy individuals and businesses in developing countries must begin to see climate change not just as a public good, but as a profitable investment. It is crucial, he said, for governments to create business conditions that make sustainable investments attractive to the private sector.