ISLAMABAD – Pakistan, ranked as the most climate-vulnerable country on the Climate Risk Index 2025 despite contributing less than 0.9% to global greenhouse gas emissions, is facing staggering economic and human losses from climate change. In 2022 alone, climate-related disasters caused damages exceeding USD 30 billion, with recovery needs estimated at USD 16.3 billion.
Air pollution alone claims over 128,000 lives in Pakistan each year, while agricultural productivity has dropped by 10–20% due to shifting weather patterns. Experts warn the country now requires USD 40–50 billion annually to effectively adapt to and mitigate climate risks.
Against this backdrop, the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) launched its 3rd Pakistan Climate Conference (PCC) Report, titled “Creating an Enabling Environment for Private Sector Participation in Climate Resilience.” The report stresses that mobilizing climate finance at scale is critical, and positions the private sector as a key partner in building resilience.
Speaking at the launch, Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Aisha Humera Chaudhry said:
“Pakistan’s climate vulnerability is undeniable. But to respond effectively, we must channel substantial and timely climate finance towards local solutions. The private sector’s role, as demonstrated by OICCI members, is central to our national climate strategy. We call on international partners to match Pakistan’s ambition with meaningful funding support.”
The report also warns that without urgent decarbonization, Pakistan’s exports face risks under global trade frameworks such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. OICCI Secretary General M. Abdul Aleem stressed that green finance and reduced reliance on fossil fuels are essential for sustaining economic growth.
Dr. Abid Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI, emphasized that the private sector is not part of the problem but an integral part of the solution, urging market-based financing mechanisms to replace reliance on dwindling grants. Ayla Majid, President of ACCA, highlighted the importance of building financial and technical expertise to ensure climate funds are used effectively and transparently.
The PCC Report outlines pathways for regenerative agriculture, industrial decarbonization, plastic circularity, and carbon market development—stressing that climate funding must be matched with enabling policies and capacity building.
As Pakistan’s only private sector representative at COP28 and COP29, OICCI continues to advocate for public-private partnerships, working with regulators such as the State Bank of Pakistan and SECP to promote green taxonomies and ESG reporting.
