At COP29 in Baku, Ali Zaidi, national climate adviser to the Biden administration, announced the United States’ openness to support regional climate diplomacy in South Asia. This follows Pakistan’s recent push for a collaborative approach to tackle cross-border pollution, particularly smog, that impacts both Pakistan and India. Zaidi stated, “We are 100% supportive of partnership-based approaches to tackle problems that cannot be solved in isolation.”
Joint Measures for Air Pollution
The smog affecting Pakistan and India is driven by industrial and vehicular emissions, worsened seasonally by stubble burning. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz recently highlighted her government’s intent to work with India to address these emissions collectively. This initiative marks a potential shift in cooperative environmental efforts between the two nations.
Regional Cooperation Essential
Zaidi underscored the importance of regional solutions, noting that environmental impacts, such as those from glaciers in the Hindu Kush region, do not respect political boundaries. He explained that collaborative efforts are needed to complement multilateral dialogues like those at COP, saying, “Regional cooperation among relevant parties would have more impact than putting another ornament on a 1,000-page document.”
Rethinking Disaster Response
Reflecting on Pakistan’s 2022 floods, which caused an estimated $30 billion in damage, Zaidi urged a reinvention of global strategies for disaster response and recovery. He emphasized the need for pre-disaster investment to build resilience, advocating financial models aligned with the capabilities of affected states.
Climate Finance Challenges
On climate finance, Zaidi indicated that while debt works for projects with reliable cash flow, grant-based aid is crucial for vulnerable areas. He pointed out that finding ways to monetize risk reduction remains a challenge. Despite potential changes with a Trump-led administration, Zaidi expressed optimism that state-level climate policies in the U.S. would maintain progress.
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