By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: In a significant move to combat climate change, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC) has joined forces with the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan (AKF-P) to enhance climate resilience and promote sustainable socio-economic development in Pakistan’s rural and coastal areas.
The partnership was formalized through the signing of a Letter of Understanding (LoU) between the MoCC and AKF-P, with a focus on addressing climate vulnerabilities in mountain communities and fostering sustainable livelihoods.
Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to tackle climate vulnerabilities in Pakistan. “The LoU marks a major step towards addressing climate vulnerabilities of mountain communities and fostering sustainable livelihoods for the mountain communities affected by the adverse impacts of climate change,” she remarked.
The partnership aims to enhance livelihood security and promote sustainable socio-economic development in Pakistan’s rural and coastal areas, including Sindh’s coastal regions, as well as the rural areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Aisha Humera Moriani, Secretary of the MoCC, highlighted the severe climate impacts faced by Gilgit-Baltistan, including glacial lake outbursts, flash floods, and landslides. She also noted that the coastal areas of Sindh are grappling with sea intrusion, high salinity, groundwater contamination, and loss of livelihoods due to the declining agriculture and fishing sectors.
In a significant development, the Prime Minister has approved the Pakistan Carbon Market Policy, authorizing carbon trading regulations. This move is expected to pave the way for the country to trade carbon credits in the international market under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
The partnership between the MoCC and AKF-P will focus on implementing climate-smart solutions in agriculture, resource management, and infrastructure, while fostering local involvement and sustainable practices. The Foundation and its sister organizations will play a pivotal role in enhancing community resilience through initiatives in clean energy, climate-smart agriculture, and environmental education.
Through this collaboration, the Ministry of Climate Change and the Aga Khan Foundation aim to improve livelihoods, protect ecosystems, and promote sustainable socio-economic development in vulnerable regions. The partnership will also work to advance climate-related initiatives, enhance research, build capacity, and mobilize joint resources.
