Pakistan Forms High-Level Steering Committee for COP-30 Preparations

In a significant step towards enhancing Pakistan’s role in global climate diplomacy, the Prime Minister has approved the formation of a high-level Steering Committee to oversee and guide the country’s preparations for the upcoming 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-30), scheduled to be held in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil. The committee has been constituted with the Prime Minister himself serving as the Convener. The Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (PD&SI) will serve as the Co-Convener, while key members include the Minister for Climate Change, Senator Ms. Sherry Rehman, Mr. Tariq Fatemi (Special Assistant to the Prime Minister), and Mr. Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan. The Secretaries of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Climate Change, and the Special Secretary of the Finance Division will also serve as members of the committee. The Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change has been designated as the Member/Secretary of the committee. The Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination will act as the Secretariat, providing administrative and logistical support to the committee. The Steering Committee has been entrusted with several important responsibilities. Chief among them is the task of providing strategic direction for the preparation of Pakistan’s official stance and position for COP-30. The committee will also define and prioritize the thematic areas that will shape Pakistan’s climate agenda during the high-level segment of the conference, particularly in preparation for bilateral and multilateral engagements between the Prime Minister and global leaders. Another key function of the committee will be to oversee the preparation of the Prime Minister’s speech for COP-30 and manage all related diplomatic and logistical arrangements associated with the national delegation’s participation. Additionally, the committee has been given the authority to constitute sub-committees as needed to support its work. It may also co-opt expert members to provide thematic or technical input where necessary. The first meeting of the Steering Committee is scheduled to take place in August 2025. This early start is designed to ensure that Pakistan’s participation in COP-30 is both comprehensive and impactful, reflecting the country’s commitment to climate action and sustainable development. Pakistan’s preparations for COP-30 build upon the experience and outcomes of COP-29, which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024. At COP-29, Pakistan played an active role in global discussions, particularly in advocating for climate justice, loss and damage funding, and enhanced financial support for adaptation in vulnerable developing countries.