The European Union (EU) Special Envoy for Climate and Environmental Diplomacy, Anthony Agotha, called on Member of the National Assembly and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday and discussed climate justice, regional water security and inclusive green cooperation.
The meeting took place in the context of the ongoing visit of the high-level Parliamentary Delegation of Pakistan to the European Union.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari welcomed the Special Envoy’s engagement and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to climate justice, inclusive environmental cooperation, and multilateralism.
Drawing attention to the growing convergence between regional stability and climate security, he expressed serious concern over India’s unilateral decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.
He cautioned that such actions constitute a reckless assault on longstanding international agreements and set a dangerous precedent in the politicisation of natural resources, particularly in a climate stressed and densely populated region like South Asia.
He briefed the Special Envoy on Pakistan’s acute climate vulnerability, noting that despite contributing less than one percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan remains among the top ten countries most affected by climate induced disasters. He recalled the devastation caused by the 2022 floods and underscored the urgent need for scaled up adaptation financing to build resilience among the most vulnerable communities.
The two sides also exchanged views on advancing Pakistan-EU green cooperation.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari outlined Pakistan’s interest in forging deeper partnerships with the European Union on green technology transfer, including innovation in agriculture, water management, and renewable energy. He emphasised that climate adaptation must go hand in hand with a sustainable energy transition and welcomed potential European collaboration in scaling up Pakistan’s renewable energy capacity, particularly solar and wind.