Sindh prepares to strengthen climate response

Karachi, Sindh: The Sindh government is set to bolster its climate response through several key initiatives, including improved access to climate finance, research partnerships with public-sector institutions, and enhanced interdepartmental coordination. The province will convene the inaugural meeting of its Task Force on Climate Change and launch a Water, Food and Energy (WEF) Nexus Platform. These actions are scheduled to take place at a local hotel on Thursday.

The Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Department will host a training session on the WEF Nexus Country Platform, sign memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with two public-sector universities, and convene the taskforce's first meeting. Supported by the Islamic Development Bank, the training session will delve into the platform's features, provincial climate projects, improved project tracking, and finance mobilization opportunities. Representatives from the NDC Partnership in Islamabad will also participate.

Two MoUs will be signed in front of Sindh Chief Minister’s Adviser on Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development, Dost Muhammad Rahimoon. The first agreement establishes a partnership between the provincial department and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, focusing on research, education, policy support, capacity building, technology transfer, and public outreach.

The second MoU is with Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University of Technology and Skill Development in Khairpur Mirs, aiming to promote joint research, knowledge sharing, and collaborative efforts in climate change and environmental sustainability.

The inaugural Task Force on Climate Change meeting will concentrate on climate governance and policy, sector-specific actions, data monitoring, implementation mechanisms, legal and institutional reforms, climate finance, and interdepartmental coordination. These measures are poised to fortify collaboration between government entities and academia, enhance the development and visibility of provincial climate projects, and fortify Sindh's institutional capacity to foster a greener, more resilient future.