Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Musadik Malik on Friday urged the international community to prioritise climate justice and resilient housing, warning that climate-vulnerable populations continued to suffer disproportionately despite contributing the least to global emissions.
Speaking at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum 13 in Baku, the minister highlighted the growing challenges posed by climate change, urban inequality, poverty and housing injustice, particularly for marginalised communities.
The forum, being held under the theme “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities”, brought together global leaders and policymakers to discuss sustainable urban development and climate resilience.
Delivering Pakistan’s national ministerial statement, Malik said climate-resilient housing was fundamentally an issue of justice.
He noted that while it could take generations for a family to escape poverty, a single natural disaster could push them back into deprivation and vulnerability.
Addressing a session on “NDC 3.0: Urban Law and Multi-Level Governance to Enable Climate Commitments”, the minister stressed upon the importance of strengthening urban governance frameworks and improving institutional coordination to enhance climate resilience.
During a high-level dialogue on “The Climate-Housing Nexus: Can We Scale Climate Resilient Housing Without Deepening Inequality or Displacement?”, he underscored the close link between climate change, poverty and housing insecurity.
Malik also referred to the devastating impacts of floods and other climate-induced disasters in Pakistan, citing loss of lives, mass displacement and severe economic damage.
He said affordable housing should be recognised as a basic right rather than treated merely as a welfare measure.
On the sidelines of the forum, the minister held a bilateral meeting with Parviz Shahbazov to discuss energy cooperation, climate resilience, sustainable development and avenues for enhancing bilateral collaboration between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.