Official Statement
Date: March 10, 2026 From: ClimateWatch Policy Advocacy Division Re: Climate Finance Equity — COP31 Preparatory Position
As the international community prepares for COP31, ClimateWatch submits this position statement on the critical need for equitable climate finance mechanisms, particularly regarding loss-and-damage fund disbursement.
Context
Pakistan remains one of the countries most affected by climate-induced disasters, having experienced catastrophic flooding in 2022 that displaced over 33 million people and caused an estimated $30 billion in damages. Despite being responsible for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan bears a disproportionate share of climate impacts.
Position
- Loss-and-damage funds must reach frontline communities within 6 months of disaster declaration, not through multi-year bureaucratic pipelines.
- Direct access modalities should be established to allow sub-national entities and community organizations to access climate finance without federal intermediation.
- Adaptation finance must be disaggregated from mitigation finance in all reporting frameworks to ensure visibility and accountability.
- Vulnerability-weighted allocation formulas should replace GDP-based metrics for determining climate finance eligibility.
Call to Action
We urge the Government of Pakistan's COP31 negotiating team to champion these positions in the preparatory consultations and to ensure that the voices of Pakistan's frontline communities are represented at the negotiating table.
Signatory
Shayan Ali Founder & Executive Director, ClimateWatch