Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, delivered a keynote address through a special video message at the High-Level Climate Finance Dialogue organized by the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination on the sidelines of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
The Dialogue brought together international climate finance experts and representatives from Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). It aimed to issue a strong global call for enhanced climate finance, streamline and simplify access mechanisms for developing countries, accelerate funding flows for vulnerable nations, and strengthen global partnerships and alliances for effective climate action.
In his address, Federal Minister Dr. Musadik Malik highlighted Pakistan’s acute climate vulnerability, noting that the country sits at the foothills of around 13,000 glaciers that feed the Indus River system, Pakistan’s ecological and economic lifeline. He emphasized that despite contributing less than one percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan remains among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world.
Dr. Malik underscored that the climate crisis is not merely a matter of climate finance, but fundamentally an issue of climate justice. He pointed out that a significant portion of global climate finance comes in the form of repurposed loans originally intended for education, health, human development, and other Sustainable Development Goals. These loans, he stated, are redirected toward responding to climate-induced disasters, undermining long-term development priorities.
He called on the international community to demonstrate genuine commitment in addressing climate change, stressing that adaptation and resilience cannot be achieved without equitable, predictable, and accessible climate finance.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve, Dr. Malik stated:
“We are committed to a green transition and climate-resilient development. Pakistan is actively implementing its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), but partnership and fair climate finance are essential for developing economies to move forward.”
The Federal Minister urged global leaders, financial institutions, and development partners to unite for a collective future, both through increased climate finance and through sharing technologies that enable sustainable transitions in developing countries.
