Romina Khurshid Alam Meets COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev to Bolster Climate Cooperation

Baku, The Gulf Observer: A high-level six-member Pakistani delegation, led by Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam, held a significant meeting with COP29 President and Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mukhtar Babayev, to discuss collaborative efforts for environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

During the meeting, Romina Khurshid Alam extended congratulations on behalf of the Government of Pakistan for Azerbaijan’s successful organization of the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) in Baku. The event has drawn delegations from over 196 countries to deliberate on critical issues such as climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building measures.

Strengthening Bilateral and Global Climate Collaboration

Romina Khurshid Alam emphasized Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, despite contributing less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions. She highlighted the country’s pressing need for $348 billion by 2030 to implement its climate resilience and mitigation strategies, including its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

“Pakistan is among the most climate-vulnerable countries, grappling with escalating challenges such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves. Global cooperation is indispensable for building resilience and securing livelihoods,” she stated.

She also applauded Azerbaijan’s active engagement in international climate dialogue, including its participation in Pakistan’s high-level Climate Finance Roundtable on November 12, chaired by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister voiced strong support for Pakistan’s call to developed nations to fulfill their climate finance commitments.

Regional and International Advocacy

Romina Khurshid Alam underlined Pakistan’s efforts to forge partnerships at COP29, advocating for enhanced funding under the Loss and Damage Fund established at COP27, which Pakistan championed. She reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to pushing for increased financial contributions from developed nations to support climate adaptation and mitigation in vulnerable countries.

She also highlighted Pakistan’s initiative to host a conference for the Vulnerable Twenty Group (V20) early next year, aiming to unify 68 member states in addressing shared climate risks and exploring sustainable funding mechanisms.

COP29 President’s Response

Mukhtar Babayev commended Pakistan’s proactive stance and its leadership within the G77+ group at COP29, particularly in demanding increased financial and technical support from wealthier nations. He expressed Azerbaijan’s commitment to collaborating with Pakistan on critical climate issues and acknowledged the importance of equitable climate financing and technology sharing to address global warming.

A Call for Concrete Outcomes at COP29

Both parties agreed that COP29 must deliver actionable commitments from developed countries, ensuring meaningful progress in climate finance and technology transfer. They expressed optimism that the ongoing discussions would lead to substantive outcomes for advancing global climate resilience.

This meeting underscored the shared vision of Pakistan and Azerbaijan for addressing the challenges of climate change through collective action, innovative solutions, and enhanced international cooperation.