Breathe Pakistan: IFAD official says Pakistan on the frontline of climate change
The second day of the second edition of the Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference, organised by DawnMedia, is currently underway in Islamabad.
Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Pakistan remains among the most climate-vulnerable nations, underscoring the critical need for coordinated, locally grounded, and globally informed responses.
The two-day conference is bringing together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders from across sectors to examine intersecting challenges and chart a path forward.
On the first day, federal ministers, government officials, business leaders, and agriculture and water experts were among the various speakers who presented their perspectives on tackling the climate crisis.
View the full agenda here.
10:00am – IFAD official says climate change shaping agriculture in Pakistan
Lamichhane said that climate change is already shaping agriculture in Pakistan. “There’s no denying it, we have to act on it. But this is also a chance to modernise and build resilience,” she said.
She went on to say that resilience was achievable when solutions were integrated, financed and designed for scale. She also said that partnership was a multiplier effect.
9:50am – IFAD official says climate ambition not constrained by ideas
Lamichhane has said that the Asia Pacific is IFAD’s most dynamic and largest portfolio. She said that across the region, five things were given priority: climate resilience; technology and productivity; strong value chains and private sector engagement; inclusion of youth, women and indigenous communities; and a shaded approach that matches solutions to country context.
“Pakistan, facing high climate risk, sits at the intersection of these priorities. We cannot dissect climate from other priorities; it has to go hand in hand,” she said.
“Climate ambition is not constrained by ideas … it is constrained by finance and delibery systems,” she said.
9:50am – IFAD official says Pakistan on the frontline of climate change
Anupa Rimal Lamichhane — the International Fund for Agricultural Development lead for regional climate change — has said that Pakistan is on the frontline of climate change.
“Agriculture contributes 23pc to GDP,” she said. Agrifood systems and farmers are not just the victims but they are also a major part of the solution, she said.
“Yet, globally, only 0.8pc of climate financing reaches farmers,” she said.
9:50am – 7th session begins
The seventh session, titled ‘Collaboration of the Global South Towards Climate Action’ has now begun.
9:46am – 2nd day of climate conference begins
The second day of the Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference has begun in Islamabad.
