The Ministry of Climate Change said on Wednesday that Germany has donated €120 million to aid Pakistan in its fight against climate change.
Senator Sherry Rehman, the federal minister for climate change and environmental coordination, met informally on the sidelines of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin with a delegation from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), led by Minister Svenja Schulze.
In order to improve bilateral collaboration between the two nations on climate adaption and mitigation measures, the two parties had discussions.
The meeting’s main objectives were to improve flood protection, develop Pakistan’s renewable energy infrastructure, and broaden social safety assistance initiatives to help disadvantaged populations deal with climate shocks.
German Federal Minister Schulze promised to donate €120 million to Pakistan to support the efforts.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was thanked by Minister Rehman for helping Pakistan with the climate energy plan. Climate risk assessments, sub-national climate risk profiling, mainstreaming climate education into higher education, and capacity building for funding mobilisation are just a few of the activities that the programme has supported.
In order for Pakistan to be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and create a more resilient future, Minister Rehman identified Germany’s commitment to these programmes as essential.
In addition to enhancing Pakistan’s capacity for climate mitigation and adaptation, Minister Schulze stressed the significance of continuing to mobilise resources for preventive and remedial measures.
She emphasised that while implementing technical solutions was necessary for reducing climate change, it was also crucial to prepare society to deal with future catastrophic weather by integrating social solutions into the system.
In addition to reiterating Germany’s commitment to assisting Pakistan in these initiatives, Minister Schulze voiced hope about the advancements that may be realised through continuing bilateral cooperation.
The ministers looked into potential areas of cooperation with the Global Shield against Climate Risks programme. This project, spearheaded by Germany and unveiled at COP27 in collaboration with the V20 and the G7, seeks to shield vulnerable developing nations and populations from the effects of climate change.
One of the “pathfinder countries” is Pakistan, where initiatives to enhance disaster response and preparedness as well as social security systems in the event of a climate calamity would be implemented first.
The discussion came to a close with potential topics for future collaboration, including looking into the possibilities of green hydrogen as a way to ensure Pakistan’s energy security.
The ministers expressed hope that Germany and Pakistan might work together in the future to promote efforts to prevent climate change’s effects and create a more sustainable future for all.