As COP29 concluded, Pakistan stood out not merely as an attendee but as a leading voice for climate justice. With its eye-catching pavilion and the unveiling of its first-ever national climate finance strategy, Pakistan made a lasting impression in Baku.
A Pavilion That Spoke Volumes
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Prime real estate: Positioned in a “corner plot” of the Blue Zone, the Pakistan Pavilion—built for $250,000—became one of COP’s most attended hubs, hosting daily expert panels on Pakistan’s climate plight.
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Cultural draw: Free snow leopard lapel pins sparked such enthusiasm that signs reading “Sorry, No Pins Today” appeared by midday in many other national booths.
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Casual diplomacy: Serving tea and snacks drew in officials and delegates, generating goodwill while spotlighting Pakistan’s message.
This high-visibility approach enabled high-level visitors—from Supreme Court judges and World Bank experts to WWF delegates—to engage with Pakistan’s case for climate justice daily.
Framing Pakistan as a Climate-Vulnerable Crucible
Pakistan’s vulnerability was clear:
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The 2022 floods submerged one-third of the country, cost over $30 billion, and affected 33 million people, nearly half of them children.
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Between 1992 and 2021, climate-related disasters inflicted $31.6 billion in economic losses—trends that are intensifying.
Against this backdrop, COP29 offered Pakistan a global stage to argue for urgent, targeted support.
Driving the Climate Finance Conversation
COP29’s headline outcome was the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG):
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Rich nations committed to mobilizing $300 billion per year by 2035 for developing countries—a triple from the previous $100 billion target.
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While notable, this pledge fell far short of the up to $1.3 trillion per year sought by the Global South, and notably, by Pakistan’s delegation.
At the final plenary, Pakistan’s Climate Coordinator Romina Khurshid Alam voiced disappointment: “The goal doesn’t match needs… Pakistan alone needs $380 billion by 2030.”
Nevertheless, Pakistan’s active role—alongside the G77+China—helped secure both the $300 billion baseline pledge and a roadmap pushing toward the $1 trillion–$1.3 trillion ambitions.
Launching the National Climate Finance Strategy (NCFS)
In a landmark moment on November 14, Pakistan unveiled its National Climate Finance Strategy at its pavilion, marking its first structured approach to climate financing. Highlights include:
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Bridging an estimated $348 billion gap by 2030 through international, domestic, and private investment.
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Establishing a Climate Finance Portal to track inflows and outflows, enhancing transparency and accountability.
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Laying out a whole-economy plan across agriculture, infrastructure, urban planning, and renewables.
The strategy was led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and climate lead Romina Khurshid Alam, who described it as “historic.”
Pakistan’s Broader COP29 Gains
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Championing climate justice: PM Shehbaz Sharif called for redefining climate finance to favor grants over loans, avoiding additional debt burdens.
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Unity for vulnerable countries: As a strong voice for the G77+China bloc, Pakistan helped secure operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund and progress on carbon markets under Article 6.
Mixed Emotions: Progress, Yet Unfinished Business
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Achievements: Pakistan leveraged COP29 to launch its NCFS, raise global finance goals, and amplify its climate justice message.
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Shortcomings: The $300 billion pledge remains insufficient, falling at least $1 trillion short of estimated global needs by 2035 and starting too late.
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Next steps: Pakistan must now operationalize its NCFS—securing tangible flows via the Green Climate Fund, green bonds, and debt-for-nature swaps while ensuring transparent governance.
Looking Ahead: From Pavilion to Implementation
Pakistan returns from COP29 with clarity of purpose but faces steep challenges:
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Translating the NCFS into pipeline projects will require coordination among financial ministries, the private sector, and multilateral development banks.
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Urgent finance must flow before 2030, not merely by 2035.
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Domestic capacity—public-private partnerships, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable infrastructure—must scale rapidly.
COP29 gave Pakistan a powerful voice and a strategic blueprint. Now, its success will be judged in the years ahead, not in Baku’s pavilions but on the ground, as climate resilience turns from promise into practice.
