Senator Sherry Rehman has sounded an urgent alarm about the world’s failure to meet its climate goals. Speaking at the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change (CSCCC) roundtable in Islamabad, she criticized the outcomes of COP29 and highlighted the dire need for a shift in global and domestic climate strategies. The keyword here is climate action challenges, which underscores her call for rethinking climate policies to address the growing crisis.
Criticism of COP29 Outcomes
During her address, Senator Rehman labeled COP29 as a “finance COP,” expressing disappointment with the summit’s lack of meaningful progress. She pointed out that the $300 billion climate finance pledge for 2035 falls woefully short of addressing the needs of vulnerable nations.
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“This is a band-aid on a bullet wound,” she remarked, emphasizing that Pakistan alone requires $30 billion for loss and damage—a figure far beyond current global commitments. She also criticized the delayed $100 billion annual pledge by wealthy nations, calling it a blow to the trust developing nations place in global climate promises.
Multilateralism in Decline
Senator Rehman reflected on the diminishing spirit of global cooperation. “It’s certainly not the Paris moment anymore,” she said, referring to the historic 2015 Paris Agreement. She lamented that while emissions continue to rise, the 1.5-degree Celsius target is no longer achievable.
According to her, global climate platforms like COP have become spaces for setting lofty goals but lack mechanisms for delivering tangible results. “These platforms need to move beyond rhetoric. We cannot afford poster campaigns when the world is burning,” she stressed.
Challenges in Domestic Climate Governance
Senator Rehman also pointed to Pakistan’s internal challenges in addressing climate change. She called for clarity, decisive leadership, and localised solutions, warning that the country cannot afford to rely on directives from the Global North.
“Much of institutional Pakistan remains confused about climate change,” she noted. She emphasized that provinces, not centralised authorities, must take the lead in driving climate action. According to her, momentum will only come from grassroots initiatives, not from what she described as “another white elephant.”
Shift from Slogans to Solutions
Rehman advocated for a “do no harm” approach, urging Pakistan and other nations to move from slogans to actionable policies. She highlighted the importance of practical solutions, stressing that success will come from addressing real issues rather than engaging in hollow rhetoric.
The senator also praised Pakistan’s proactive advocacy for loss and damage financing on the global stage. She attributed this success to “speaking truth to power” and warned against passive participation in multilateral platforms.
The Need for Urgent Climate Action
The stark warnings from Senator Sherry Rehman underline the urgent need for global and domestic recalibration of climate strategies. With emissions rising and financial commitments lagging, countries like Pakistan face increasing challenges in mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Rehman’s message was clear: without immediate and decisive action, the world risks falling further behind in the fight against climate change. The climate action challenges she outlined demand attention, innovation, and accountability at every level.
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