Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, held a meeting with Ms. Mary O’Neill, the first Ambassador of Ireland to Pakistan, following the establishment of Ireland’s embassy in Islamabad last year.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the current climate situation and the respective approaches of Pakistan and Ireland in tackling the growing environmental challenges.
Dr. Musadik Malik highlighted the shifting global dynamics, stating that the world is gradually moving from multilateralism towards bilateralism and, in some instances, unilateralism. He noted that this shift has reduced the level of multilateral support for climate-related initiatives, making self-reliance increasingly necessary. However, he stressed that for developing countries like Pakistan, which are already struggling with the severe repercussions of climate change, building self-reliance remains a significant challenge.
The Federal Minister further observed that the global community as a whole, as well as individual countries, have largely fallen short of achieving their climate goals. In this context, he shared the Ministry’s upcoming two-pronged strategy aimed at addressing these challenges effectively:
Strengthening Traditional Competence to which end the Ministry will enhance its capacity to access climate funds and design green projects that benefit rural and marginalized communities. Second, Promoting Non-Traditional Competence, by supporting youth-led green startups, empowering young innovators to drive sustainable solutions.
Ambassador Mary O’Neill appreciated Pakistan’s initiatives to tackle climate change and expressed Ireland’s interest in exploring collaborative opportunities in green innovation, renewable energy, and sustainable development.
