Pakistan demands climate action and funding at COP-29 summit

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Climate Change, Dr. Musadik Malik, delivered a powerful call for climate justice during high-level meetings at the COP-29 Heads of Delegation Retreat in Shamakhi, Azerbaijan.

In discussions with COP-29 President Mukhtar Babayev and Lead Negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev, Malik articulated the urgent need for equitable global action to address the growing climate crisis.

The minister highlighted the fundamental injustice facing developing nations like Pakistan, which bear the brunt of climate disasters despite contributing minimally to global emissions.

“While countries of the Global South face devastating floods, droughts and extreme weather events, the industrialized nations responsible for historical emissions continue to delay meaningful action,” Malik stated. He emphasized how Pakistan’s geographical position – bordering two of the world’s largest carbon emitters – makes it particularly vulnerable to climate impacts beyond its control.

Malik’s intervention came at a crucial moment in international climate negotiations. With COP-29 scheduled for later this year, he stressed that developed nations must fulfill their long-standing commitments to provide climate finance and technology transfer to vulnerable countries.

“Promises made in Paris and Glasgow must now translate into concrete support,” he insisted. The minister pointed to Pakistan’s catastrophic 2022 floods as a stark example of how climate-vulnerable nations face existential threats despite their minimal carbon footprints.

The meetings also explored opportunities for enhanced climate cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. Both countries discussed potential collaboration in renewable energy development, particularly in solar and wind power infrastructure.

Malik highlighted Pakistan’s interest in learning from Azerbaijan’s experience in climate-smart agriculture and disaster risk reduction strategies. These bilateral talks reflect a growing recognition that climate solutions require international partnerships and knowledge-sharing.

A central theme of Malik’s message was the interconnected nature of climate impacts. “When glaciers melt in the Himalayas or floods devastate our agricultural heartlands, the consequences ripple across borders and continents,” he explained. This perspective underscores Pakistan’s call for climate action rooted in scientific evidence and global solidarity rather than narrow national interests.

The minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to multilateral climate governance while expressing cautious optimism about COP-29. “This year’s summit must deliver tangible progress on financing, adaptation and loss and damage,” Malik stated. He specifically called for the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund established at COP-27, emphasizing that vulnerable nations cannot wait any longer for meaningful support.

Malik’s participation in these preparatory talks signals Pakistan’s determination to be a leading voice for climate justice on the global stage. His arguments reflect the growing frustration among developing nations that have watched climate commitments go unfulfilled even as disasters become more frequent and severe.

With scientific warnings about climate impacts growing increasingly dire, Pakistan’s stance highlights the urgent need for developed nations to take responsibility for their historical emissions.

As the world prepares for COP-29, Pakistan’s message carries particular weight following its own climate disasters and its leadership in global climate forums.

The Shamakhi meetings demonstrated how middle-income countries are increasingly asserting their right to demand accountability from major emitters. Whether this translates into concrete action at COP-29 remains to be seen, but Pakistan has clearly positioned itself as a champion for vulnerable nations in the critical climate negotiations ahead.