COP27 climate conference: Pakistan additional needs funds, not debts, says PM Shehbaz

Pakistan needed additional funding, not debts, to rebuild a resilient and adaptive infrastructure in the face of climate change, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday.

In his national statement at the COP27 climate conference in Egypt, the premier stressed that it was the duty of the global north to understand Pakistan’s plight.

Addressing world leaders, he said that climate change-induced catastrophic flooding in Pakistan had impacted 33 million people — the size of three European countries — with more than half being women and children.

PM Shehbaz highlighted that the floods had destroyed over 8,000 kilometers of highways, damaged more than 3,000 kilometers of railway tracks, and washed away crops over four million acres.

At High-Level Segment of #COP27, I presented flood devastation in Pakistan as an example of what climate change can do to a country. I drew the attention of the global leaders to the need for bridging massive financing gaps, inclusion of loss & damage in the agenda.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 8, 2022

“The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment estimates over $30 billion in loss and damage.”

He said that Pakistan suffered the manmade disaster despite less than one percent contribution to the carbon footprint, adding that amid these disastrous conditions, flood-hit Pakistan had to import wheat, palm oil, and “very expensive” oil and gas spending around $32 billion.

He said the country had also redirected its resources to meet the basic needs of the millions of flood-affected households.

“Pakistan is spending billions of dollars from its own resources to provide shelter, homes, medical aid, and food package to millions of people.

“How one can expect us to carry out this gigantic task on our own,” he asked and then thanked the international community for extending support to Pakistan for the relief of the flood survivors.