The Ambassador of Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, today thanked the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the UAE for hosting the 14th session of the IRENA Assembly in Abu Dhabi. The Ambassador also applauded the CEO of IRENA Mr. Francesco La Camera for his leadership and initiatives towards a cleaner and greener future.
“The world is witnessing a rapid transformation of the energy landscape to combat climate change and its impacts. Climate change poses a major threat to human health and the global economy. It is important for countries like Pakistan, which recently experienced extreme floods in 2022 that have killed countless people guilty, costing millions and costing billions of dollars in economic costs,” he said.
The Ambassador further said that according to the Global Climate Vulnerability Index, Pakistan is the 5th most vulnerable country to climate change. He also said that Pakistan’s contribution to emissions is less compared to other developed and developing countries.
“To ensure climate change action by developing countries, climate finance commitments must be met. We must build on the successful results of COP28, which was hosted by the UAE government last year.
Tirmizi said Pakistan wants to increase its share of clean renewable resources, including hydropower, to at least 60% by 2030. This will not only ensure energy equity, affordability, and sustainability but will also help significantly reduce emissions from the electricity sector. he said.
The Ambassador stated that the global energy transition must be fair, inclusive, and equitable. Developing countries need support for a greener future. International cooperation should be expanded to catalyze financing and investment to accelerate the energy transition in developing countries.
Mr. Tirmizi called on IRENA members to develop a strategy that allows grants and concessional financing to achieve the goal of a quick, just and fair transition.
