Climate change is jeopardizing Pakistan’s economic stability. With a population of over 200 million, Pakistan faces numerous climate-related problems like rising temperatures, severe water scarcity, recurrent flooding, and glacial melting.  For this reason, Pakistan has been actively participating in climate conferences by UN. The past year was no different where PM Shahbaz Sharif put forward the case of Pakistan at the COP27. But the question is, are these conferences proving to be beneficial for Pakistan in any way at all?

The appalling state of economy has compelled Pakistan to actively participate in COP27 last year. The devastating floods really proved a disaster for Pakistan’s already crumbling economy. The floods caused an estimated damage of $ 40 billion. Historically, Pakistan’s participation in COP under the UNFCCC is marked by consistent engagement and a commitment to address climate change as a general cause. But this time, the participation in COP27 aimed to draw special attention to its vulnerability to climate change and seek international assistance for sustainable development projects.

Pakistan presented a convincing case at the COP 27. As the vice-chair of COP27, PM Shahbaz Sharif advocated for the creation of a “loss and damage” financial system that would compel developed nations to assist developing nations in paying for the effects of climate change. He highlighted the country’s efforts in implementing climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, despite limited resources.

The world community gave Pakistan a large sum of money to fight climate change. According to latest data, Pakistan’s climate change projects would get $66 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). In order to fund numerous initiatives in industries like energy, agriculture, and water management, Pakistan has received a total of $200 million from the GCF as of 2021. Additionally, the “Recharge Pakistan” project will have technical support from institutions like USAID, the Coca-Cola foundation, and WWF-Pakistan.

In the face of all this spending, a question emerges as of why Pakistan is still unable to address the urgent problem of climate change. This is due to a number of causes. One of the fundamental reasons being difficulty in obtaining the funds allotted by the international community. The application process for climate funds is often complex and requires extensive documentation, technical expertise, and administrative capacity. Developing countries like Pakistan may lack the necessary knowledge and experience to navigate through these procedures effectively.

Proper policy making is lacking on Pakistan’s side in combating climate change. There is an essential link between policy making and global support. This is a crucial aspect that needs to be emphasized. By formulating robust policies, Pakistan can demonstrate its commitment to addressing climate change, thereby attracting global support in terms of funding, technology transfer, and capacity building.

Effective policy making enables Pakistan to align its domestic efforts with international commitments such as the Paris Agreement. Strong policies can create a favourable environment for investment in clean energy technologies and infrastructure. As the world transitions towards a low-carbon economy, there is a growing demand for renewable energy sources and sustainable development projects. Without substantial financial aid from developed countries, developing countries like Pakistan frequently struggle to implement effective programs. In many ways, this can also be linked to corrupt systems.

Rampant corruption is a major reason for ineffective policy making. Pakistan ranks 140 out of 180 countries rated for corruption by Transparency International. This badly hampers the country’s reputation in the international community. Western financers are already raising eyebrows on the allocation of funds given Pakistan’s history of corruption. Corruption not only hampers the effective implementation of policies but also undermines public faith in government institutions and fuels scepticism about climate change solutions.

Even if Pakistan has received a sizable funding for climate change products, it will be useless unless it is applied skilfully and properly. Firstly, proper planning and implementation strategies need to be in place to ensure that the funds are allocated appropriately. It is crucial to identify the most pressing climate change issues in Pakistan and prioritize projects accordingly. This requires thorough research and consultation with experts in the field to determine where the funds can have the greatest impact.

The government must establish robust monitoring mechanisms to track the progress of projects funded by these grants. Transparency and accountability are essential in ensuring that the money is used for its intended purpose. Regular audits should be conducted to prevent any mismanagement or corruption, which could undermine the effectiveness of these initiatives. By consistently demonstrating a commitment to monitoring and auditing grant-funded projects, Pakistan’s government can instill confidence among its citizens that their tax money is being used efficiently and for the intended purposes.