Soha Nisar
It is a fact that Pakistan is facing the brunt of the climate change menace caused by the ventures of the developed world. Lest, one must realize that Pakistan’s own lack of policy implementation or non-materialization of climate funds is the real culprit.
To mitigate climate upheaval and fortify resilience, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) launched the ‘Climate Risk Management for Strengthening Resilience to Climate Change in Pakistan’ project. Needless to say, effective implementation is the only mechanism to reap desired outcome.
The integration of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies into national development plans is one of the primary policy mechanisms for climate risk management. This entails the climate-policy nexus in various sectors- agriculture, water resources, infrastructure, and disaster management. Along these lines, Pakistan can guarantee that all development initiatives are designed to increase resilience and decrease vulnerability. Espousing climate-smart agriculture practices is one technique to adapt to shifting weather patterns and augmenting food security.
A resilient Early Warning system is another critical policy mechanism for informed decision-making and risk management. This entails the investment in meteorological infrastructure, upgrading of data collection and analysis capabilities, and the guarantee of timely dissemination of climatic information to stakeholders at all levels.
Nevertheless, financial mechanisms are instrumental in bolstering climate resilience initiatives. The Green Climate Fund is a prime example of this, as it offers financial assistance to initiatives that are designed to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Nevertheless, to mobilize supplementary resources, it is equally crucial for Pakistan to establish domestic funding sources and innovative financial instruments, such as resilience funds or climate bonds. Similarly, investments in climate-friendly technologies and practices can be stimulated by providing tax benefits or subsidies to the private sector.
