SSC Newsletter 23: International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan

Published on 9 January 2023 at 09:41

 

The International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan, co-hosted by the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations, takes place on 9 January 2023.

 

The Conference will bring together Governments, leaders from the public and private sectors and civil society to support the people and the Government of Pakistan after the devastating floods of 2022. It has two main objectives:

Present the Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework (4RF), which lays out a multisectoral strategy for rehabilitation and reconstruction in a climate-resilient and inclusive manner and Secure international support and forge long-term partnerships for building Pakistan’s climate resilience and adaptation.

Background

The devastating floods in 2022 were Pakistan’s worst disaster in decades. They left one third of the country submerged, about 15,000 dead or injured and 8 million displaced. Over 2 million homes, 13,000 kilometres of highways, 439 bridges and more than 4 million acres of agricultural land were destroyed or damaged. An estimated 9 million more people could be forced into poverty as a direct consequence of these floods.

With help from the United Nations, the generosity of donors and partners, and the heroic response of its people, the Government of Pakistan has been able to respond to this unprecedented climate catastrophe. It provided US$245 million in cash support to 2.2 million households and, with the help of international agencies, has distributed hundreds of thousands of tents, food, water and medicines to the destitute and the displaced.

Now, the enormous challenge of reconstruction and rehabilitation lies ahead. With the support of the United Nations system, the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Union, Pakistan has prepared a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), which estimates flood damages to exceed US$14.9 billion, economic losses over US$15.2 billion and reconstruction needs over US$16.3 billion.

PDNA estimates

The PDNA has identified core priorities that include the revival of livelihoods and agriculture, the rebuilding of private housing, and the reconstruction of public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals.

Source: UNDP