ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has called for enhanced global policies and concessional financing to help developing countries, struggling with limited fiscal space, transition to clean energy. This appeal was made during an event co-hosted by Islamabad to mark the ‘International Day of Clean Energy’ at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, as reported by state media on Sunday.
Observed annually on January 26, the International Day of Clean Energy aims to raise awareness and inspire action for the global shift toward sustainable energy. The event was organized by the “Group of Friends of Energy,” a coalition of member states advocating for universal sustainable energy access.
Addressing the event, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Pakistan’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, emphasized the urgent need for equitable financing mechanisms:
“Developing countries with limited resources cannot achieve energy transition without enhanced financial support. On this International Day of Clean Energy, we must reaffirm our commitment to take necessary actions, both nationally and globally, to meet energy transition goals,” he said.
Climate experts underscore the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar and wind to combat climate change. Fossil fuels remain the leading contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for 75% of the total. The UN has urged a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Exceeding this threshold could lead to irreversible climate consequences.
Though contributing less than 1% to global emissions, Pakistan ranks among the nations most vulnerable to climate change. In 2022, catastrophic monsoon floods linked to glacier melts and unprecedented rainfall affected 33 million people, causing over $30 billion in damages and claiming more than 1,700 lives.
Ambassador Jadoon highlighted Pakistan’s renewable energy targets, including increasing renewables’ share in the energy mix to 60% and adding 13,000 MW of hydropower capacity by 2030. However, he pointed out that achieving these goals would require over $100 billion, with global energy transition costs projected at $150 trillion by 2050.
“Partnerships are vital to help developing nations overcome financial and technological challenges,” Jadoon said, calling for collective action to accelerate clean energy adoption worldwide.
