{
  "id": 19081798,
  "title": "What Pakistan should seek at COP31, and do at home on climate",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/what-pakistan-should-seek-at-cop31-and-do-at-home-on-climate",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T03:26:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2043238/what-pakistan-should-seek-at-cop31-and-do-at-home-on-climate"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As COP31 commences in Antalya, nations must demonstrate that climate negotiations have yielded more than mere ambitions and financial promises. Geopolitical unrest, an energy crisis, and strained finances in affluent countries have dimmed hopes for a breakthrough. The lack of a US delegation following Washington’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement has exacerbated the situation. Simultaneously, the climate crisis is progressing at a faster pace than the measures to mitigate it. According to a recent UN report, even if countries meet their existing climate commitments, global temperatures could surge by 2.6°C this century. For Pakistan, which is already grappling with floods, extreme heat, and irregular rainfall, the pressing question is what it can realistically attain from these talks.\n\nAt COP29, developed nations pledged to mobilize $300 billion annually for developing nations by 2035. COP30 advocated for progress towards a larger objective of $1.3 trillion per year, with a target to triple adaptation finance by 2035. However, lofty promises of increased funding ring hollow if vulnerable states struggle to access it. For Pakistan, securing easier access to climate funds, more grants than loans with interest, and transparent deadlines for financial commitments should be paramount. It should advocate for practical measures to safeguard homes from flooding, ensure water supplies, and bolster early warning systems. By uniting with other vulnerable nations, Pakistan can amplify calls for enhanced glacier monitoring, flood defense, and affordable climate technology. Its present climate plan targets a 50% reduction in projected emissions by 2035, with 17 percentage points achieved independently and the remaining 33% contingent on international assistance. This provides Pakistan with justification to seek investment in renewable energy, transportation, and agriculture. Nonetheless, it must also enact reforms at home, while lobbying for stronger global action to decrease emissions.\n\nPakistan's preparations for COP31 present an opportunity to implement these priorities. Its scheduled pavilion sessions in Antalya will cover disaster preparedness, solar electrification, local adaptation, and climate investment projects. These deliberations should culminate in partnerships and investment proposals. Islamabad should pinpoint priority projects and publicly report on the commitments made and funds acquired. Provincial governments must be engaged, as irrigation, land use, drainage, and emergency services are primarily their purview. Local communities should aid in determining which projects merit priority funding. Pakistan must also tackle issues that international aid cannot address alone, such as construction in floodplains and lax enforcement of environmental regulations. COP31 may yield modest advancements rather than a comprehensive agreement. Nonetheless, Pakistan can still make strides by presenting feasible proposals and demonstrating that the assistance it receives will benefit the most vulnerable populations.",
  "summary": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2043207/antalya-agenda",
  "key_points": [
    "Pakistan seeks easier access to climate funds and grants over loans with interest at COP31.",
    "Advocates for practical measures to safeguard homes from flooding and ensure water supplies.",
    "Calls for stronger global action to decrease emissions while implementing reforms at home."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Securing grants and practical adaptation tools at COP31 allows Pakistan to bridge the gap between its ambitious emission reduction targets and the international assistance required to meet them.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}