ISLAMABAD, Dec 06 (APP): The Rotary Club of Karachi Envir
onment (RCK ENV) in partnership with the Climate Hub Forum led clima
te diplomacy and global south voices at COP29, the global climate summit held in Baku, Azerbaijan, by championing climate action and sustainable development through local leadership and international collaboration.
The RCK ENV partnering with the Climate Hub Forum (CHF) positioned Pakistan as a key player in the fight against climate change, whereas the deleg
ation led by Chairperson of CHF and incoming President of RCK ENV for 2025-2026, Erum Khan, and President of RCK, Kafeel Hussain and Vice President of RCK ENV and CHF Co-Founder, Aamir Sadozai highlighted innovative solutions and forged partnerships to promote envir
onmental sustainability on a global scale, Aamir Sadozai told APP in an exclusive interview while highlighting its achievements at the UN’s Climate Change moot in Baku.
Sadozai informed that prior to the COP29 moot, the RCK ENV and CHF formalized their collabor
ation by adopting two flagship initiatives of the One Million Trees Initiative, focusing on mass tree plantations to combat urban heat and deforest
ation and Climate Change Educ
ation and Community Training, equipping teachers and communities with the knowledge to tackle climate challenges.
At COP 29, these projects were showcased as models of impactful local action addressing global envir
onmental challenges, he added. RCK ENV and CHF, he said advocated for equitable climate fi
nance and greater inclusion of developing nations in climate-related decision-making processes, emphasizing the urgency of funding for vulnerable communities.
The deleg
ation co-led a session on Sustainable Tourism and Climate Change, championing nature-based tourism as a tool for economic growth and envir
onmental conservation, he said adding, “We have engaged with prominent figures like UN Climate Change Champions Razan Al Mubarak and Nigar Arpadarai, as well as leaders from Africa and urban planning experts.”
CHF played a key role in unveiling Pakistan’s National Climate Fi
nance Strategy, whereas Professor Dr. Phoebe Koundouri delivered a keynote on innovative funding models for resilience-building, marking a milestone for Pakistan’s climate policy, Aamir Sadozai said.
The RCK ENV, he said emphasized sustainable urban planning and green buildings as critical solutions for climate-c
onscious cities, presenting these ideas during high-level discussions. The deleg
ation secured collaborations with UN agencies and African organizations, focusing on capacity-building and resilience projects in the Global South, he added.
During various discussion Chairperson RCK ENV, Erum Khan, he said expressed the delegation’s mission stating that at COP29, the deleg
ation not only advocated for climate justice but also demonstrated the potential of grassroots initiatives in driving global change.
Aamir Sadozai highlighted that the capacity gap faced by developing nations as the Global South needed robust international support to tackle climate challenges. Kafeel Hussain underscored the importance of urban sustainability as resilient cities were essential for combating climate change.
