On a visit to GCF Headquarters last week, the Government of Pakistan confirmed that it intends to submit a proposal to obtain readiness support from the Fund by October.

Delegation officials said Pakistan will use the support to enhance the capacities of its climate change ministry, which will lead the definition of national projects for climate action.

Heading the delegation, Mr. Arif Ahmed Khan, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change, provided an overview of Pakistan’s climate investment priorities. He stated that Pakistan will seek the Fund’s support for a broad range of low-emission and climate-resilient initiatives, including those for renewable energy.

Explaining GCF’s unique investment framework to the delegation, Ms. Héla Cheikhrouhou, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund, highlighted also the Fund’s eight strategic goals that Pakistan could help advance through its potential climate action.

Specialists from GCF provided guidance on the Fund’s accreditation process and financing modalities, including its innovative Private Sector Facility.

Officials explained Pakistan’s plans to advance quickly through the readiness programme. The grant will support their project proposals that will align with the country’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC), which the Government of Pakistan will present at UNFCCC’s Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in Paris later this year.

Pakistan is particularly vulnerable to water-related pressures caused by global warming. These include floods due to melting glaciers in its northern, mountainous region, and extreme weather events like droughts and monsoons that are predicted to increase in frequency and severity over the coming decades.