Sherry Rehman Criticizes Global Climate Inaction, Calls for Urgent Policy Reforms in Pakistan

Former climate change minister Sherry Rehman has voiced strong criticism against international climate conferences, stating that they have failed to deliver tangible financial support for vulnerable countries like Pakistan. Speaking at the Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference, she urged policymakers to treat climate change as a national crisis rather than an external issue, warning of dire consequences if action is delayed.

As the chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, Senator Rehman laid out a sobering vision of Pakistan’s future, particularly as the country approaches its 100th anniversary in 2047. She shared alarming statistics on the impact of environmental degradation, particularly air pollution, which she said is responsible for 128,000 deaths annually in Pakistan and reduces life expectancy by approximately 3.9 years. The financial burden is staggering, with air pollution alone costing the country $47 billion per year—equivalent to 5.88% of GDP. She stressed the need for full implementation of the National Clean Air Policy to combat worsening smog, which currently affects 11 million children.

Climate Disasters and Economic Losses

Drawing comparisons to wildfires in California, Rehman pointed to Pakistan’s own climate-induced disasters, such as the 2022 Balochistan fire, which destroyed 26,000 acres of ancient chilgoza pine forests, causing an economic loss of $20 million. Despite these forests contributing $30-40 million annually to the economy, climate change continues to erode the country’s natural resources.

“The climate clock is ticking, and inaction will bring devastation to our doorstep,” she warned, reminding the audience of the catastrophic 2022 floods that submerged one-third of Pakistan. “What happened in Pakistan will not stay in Pakistan,” she added, emphasizing that climate change is now a structural issue shaping national and global policies.

Failure of International Climate Financing

Rehman also criticized the failure of global climate financing mechanisms, noting that despite 29 international climate conferences, developing nations like Pakistan have struggled to access promised funds. While Pakistan secured the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27, she acknowledged that even if fully capitalized, these funds will be difficult to access.

Pakistan requires $348 billion by 2030 to mitigate climate risks, yet international financial structures remain skewed against developing countries. She highlighted the disparity in global spending, revealing that while developing nations need $1.3 trillion annually for climate finance, fossil fuel subsidies reached $7 trillion in 2022 alone. “The money exists,” she said, “but it’s being directed elsewhere.”

Water Scarcity and Pollution Crisis

Rehman also shed light on Pakistan’s worsening water crisis, noting that the country is the fourth-largest per capita consumer of water, yet faces acute shortages due to mismanagement and pollution.

• Only 1% of wastewater is treated, while millions of gallons of sewage are dumped into rivers and lakes.

• The Indus River, Pakistan’s primary water source, is now the second-most polluted river in the world due to industrial waste and plastic pollution.

• Pakistan generates 49.6 million tonnes of solid waste annually, with plastic waste increasing at a 15% annual rate.

• By 2050, plastic in the ocean could outweigh fish, she warned.

Deforestation and Agricultural Decline

Pakistan loses 27,000 acres of forest cover annually, leading to extreme flooding, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem collapse, which costs the economy Rs2.3 billion per year. Although some progress has been made in solar energy adoption, Rehman stressed the urgent need for a coordinated national climate policy.

She also raised concerns about climate denialism making a comeback, warning that failure to prioritize climate issues in development planning would be disastrous.

Adding to the discussion, Dr. Ali Cheema, Vice Chancellor of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), emphasized the interconnection between public health and agricultural practices. He pointed out that declining soil fertility, deforestation, and biodiversity loss have resulted in Pakistan’s lowest agricultural productivity in 30 years.

With environmental degradation accelerating, Rehman concluded with a call to action: “Climate must be the lens through which every development decision is made. The future of Pakistan depends on it.”