- Says It’s up to transitional committee to build on historic development
- Showers praise on Sherry Rehman, her team over hard work
ISLAMABAD: A historic United Nations deal struck on funding to help vulnerable countries cope with the effects of climate change is a “pivotal step” towards justice, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Sunday.
The Prime Minister appreciated the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at the UN climate summit, saying it was the “first pivotal step” towards the goal of climate justice.
The UN COP27 summit wrapped up Sunday in Egypt with a deal for a fund to help vulnerable countries cope with “loss and damage” from devastating climate impacts.
“The establishment of loss & damage fund at the UN climate summit is the first pivotal step towards the goal of climate justice,” Shehbaz tweeted.
The establishment of loss & damage fund at the UN climate summit is the first pivotal step towards the goal of climate justice. It is up to the transitional committee to build on the historic development. I appreciate @sherryrehman & her team for their contribution & hard work.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 20, 2022
“It is up to the transitional committee to build on the historic development. I appreciate (Minister for Climate Change) Sherry Rehman and her team for their contribution and hard work,” the prime minister remarked.
Pakistan — the world’s fifth largest population — is responsible for only 0.8 percent of global greenhouse emissions but is one of the countries most vulnerable to extreme weather caused by global warming.
Earlier this year Pakistan was struck by devastating monsoon floods that left nearly a third of the country under water, affecting more than 30 million people and leaving a repair bill estimated at nearly $30 billion.
According to the media reports, at COP27 held at Sharm el-Sheikh, the countries adopted a hard-fought final agreement at the COP27 climate summit early Sunday that sets up a fund to help poor countries being battered by climate disasters.
What is being dubbed as a victory for the poorer nations that have pushed for the move for years, the Fund would earmark money for loss and damage caused by climate change-induced disasters.
The prime minister along with his cabinet members including Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Climate Change Minister Senator Sherry Rehman had raised the voice for climate justice at the regional and global levels.
The Fund would lead to the provision of assistance to the countries impacted by climate change. It will also support Pakistan in the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people and the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure.
According to a PM Office statement, COP27 made history by taking a practical step comparing the Paris Accord and Green Marshal Plan.
The COP27 summit was recently held on November 7-8 also participated by the prime minister at the invitation of the Egyptian president.
He had also co-chaired a roundtable conference on “loss and damage” and his address to the session also mainly focused on climate change-induced disaster and the measures to mitigate the losses.
The prime minister emphasized the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund to provide climate justice to the affected countries.
Following the agreement on the establishment of the Fund, Sherry Rehman said, “It has been a long 30-year journey from demand to the formation of the Loss & Damage Fund for 134 countries” and called it an important first step in reaffirming the core principles of climate justice.
“This is not about accepting charity,” she said. “This is a down payment on investment in our futures, and in climate justice,” she remarked.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also welcomed the decision and said, “Clearly, this will not be enough, but it is a much-needed political signal to rebuild broken trust.”
Grieved over demise of SPM Dr Tauqir Shah’s mother
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed grief over demise of the mother of Secretary to PM DrTauqirShah.”I am deeply grieved to learn about the passing of the mother of DrTauqir Shah, SPM… My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family,” the prime minister wrote on Twitter.
He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant strength to the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude.
Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Sunday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of the mother of the Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Tauqeer Shah.
In a statement, she expressed her heartfelt condolences with the family of Dr Tauqeer Shah.
Marriyum Aurangzeb prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude.
