Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Climate Change, has emphasized the urgent need for robust climate risk management strategies to enhance preparedness for natural disasters and mitigate their economic, social, and environmental impacts.
Speaking at the “Humanitarian Futures” event organized by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Islamabad on Thursday, she addressed an audience comprising government officials, representatives of local and international humanitarian agencies, academics, climate scientists, and meteorological experts.
Romina Khurshid Alam highlighted the significant initiatives launched at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, to combat climate change. These included the Global Shield initiative, climate justice efforts, climate-smart agriculture projects, renewable energy solutions, Pakistan’s green recovery plan, nature-based solutions, and various climate finance initiatives.
She also underscored Pakistan’s increasing dependence on glaciers and rivers for its water supply, noting that the country faces acute water shortages, which intensify challenges in agriculture—a crucial sector of the national economy. "Our agriculture is significantly threatened by water scarcity, and we need to invest in long-term solutions to tackle these challenges," she stated.
Romina Khurshid Alam recalled that Pakistan had faced one of its worst flood disasters in 2022, displacing millions, destroying crops, and damaging critical infrastructure, following a similar catastrophe in 2010. She also stressed the importance of incorporating disaster risk financing into the global loss and damage agenda, describing it as a proactive measure to manage the escalating costs associated with climate change.
