Pakistan Climate Funding Needs $565bn by 2035

Pakistan climate funding needs are estimated at $565 billion by 2035, according to State Minister for Climate Change Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal. She spoke at a Pre-COP31 Multi-stakeholder Consultation ahead of the 31st Conference of the Parties in Antalya, Türkiye, and called for an evidence-based national position.

Pakistan Climate Funding Gap Ahead of COP31

Under its third Nationally Determined Contribution, submitted in September 2025, Pakistan has pledged to cut emissions by 50 per cent against projected levels by 2035. The target includes an unconditional 17 per cent reduction, with a further 33 per cent dependent on international financial support, while more than 60 per cent of government revenues go towards debt servicing.

Adaptation Finance and Loss and Damage Priorities

Adaptation finance stood at $26 billion in 2023, against a commitment to reach $40 billion by 2026 and assessed annual needs of $310 billion. Kharal noted that the agreed text does not identify the baseline for tripling adaptation funding by 2035, which will decide how much additional money vulnerable countries receive.

The Fund for responding to Loss and Damage received 176 eligible proposals from 119 countries seeking $2.8 billion, against $342 million available in its pilot phase. Pakistan has submitted three requests worth $58 million, covering agricultural recovery, climate-resilient healthcare in Balochistan and fisheries restoration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with initial decisions expected in December.

Mountains, Youth and Inclusive Climate Diplomacy

Glacier loss and mountain vulnerability form another priority, with projections showing that Indus River flows could fall by 20 to 30 per cent by 2050. Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral face threats not fully captured by existing classifications, and Pakistan’s growing record in preparedness, praised by the UN chief in Pakistan Disaster Management, strengthens its voice on these issues.

Open consultation with provincial institutions, universities, youth groups and affected communities shows a constructive approach to shaping the national brief. With most of the population under 30, clear arrangements for youth delegates, covering numbers, nomination and status, along with careful wording on funding commitments, would strengthen Pakistan’s position in Antalya. The consultation document will be reviewed and shared with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, although formal adoption is not guaranteed.