Pakistan, Global Green Growth Initiative ink four-year pact to boost climate resilience

The partnership seeks to support the country's sustainable development goals through green growth initiatives

Pakistan has signed a four-year agreement with the Global Green Growth Initiative (GGGI) to support the country’s sustainable development goals through green growth initiatives aimed at enhancing climate resilience.

The deal was finalised during the UN-led COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, with Aisha Humera Moriani, Secretary of Pakistan’s Climate Change Ministry, and GGGI Deputy Director-General Helena McLeod signing the agreement.

“The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and GGGI have signed a four-year Country Programme Framework agreement to advance Pakistan’s sustainable development goals through targeted climate action and green growth interventions,” an official statement read.

Helena McLeod expressed her commitment to facilitating Pakistan's transition to a green economy, emphasising the need to address water scarcity, deforestation, and energy challenges exacerbated by climate change.

The partnership seeks to address climate challenges in Pakistan, which is ranked as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change by the Global Climate Risk Index.

In 2022, devastating floods caused over 1,700 deaths, affected more than 33 million people, and inflicted economic losses exceeding $30 billion. Despite over $9 billion in international aid pledged for flood recovery, limited funds have been disbursed so far.

Pakistan’s Climate Change Coordinator Romina Khurshid Alam praised the GGGI’s efforts to mobilise green finance and support climate action frameworks. Pakistan has also been grappling with climate change-induced extreme weather events, including droughts, cyclones, and heatwaves.

Lahore is currently experiencing record-high pollution levels, leading to hundreds of hospitalizations, school closures, and stay-at-home orders. Toxic smog, caused by a combination of industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and agricultural stubble burning, has blanketed the city for weeks.