Pakistan urges rethink of global climate financing priorities
Pakistan produces less than one percent of greenhouse gas emissions but remains severely affected, the minister said.
Climate Change Minister Musadik Masood Malik called for climate justice at an event in Türkiye on Friday, the state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
He said countries that contribute the least to global greenhouse gas emissions are bearing some of the heaviest consequences of climate change, and he urged the international community to reconsider its financing priorities.
Musadik said Pakistan accounts for less than one percent of greenhouse gas emissions but remains among the countries severely affected by climate change.
He stressed that international climate commitments must turn into practical support, particularly for glacier monitoring, early-warning infrastructure, adaptation and scientific research.
He also said support must reach communities affected by disasters so they can recover, the minister said.
Pakistan's northern areas host large glaciers whose melt is closely watched as temperatures rise, and the country has faced repeated floods, heatwaves and other extreme weather in recent years.
The devastating floods of 2022 affected millions of people and caused widespread damage to homes, crops and infrastructure, which renewed calls within Pakistan for stronger early warning and recovery systems.
Climate finance, meant to help developing countries adapt to climate change and cut emissions, has long been a central issue in United Nations climate talks, where poorer nations press wealthier, historically higher-emitting countries to provide funding.
