Pakistan committed to cutting emissions by 50 per cent against projected levels by 2035 in its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted in September 2025. The NDC outlines a 17 per cent unconditional reduction in emissions, while a 33 per cent conditional reduction depends on international support.
An estimated $565 billion in investment is needed through 2035 to fulfill these climate commitments. More than 60 per cent of Pakistan's revenues are spent on debt servicing.
Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal, State Minister for Climate Change, said, "The gap between those two things is what our negotiators are set to close." Adaptation finance reached $26 billion in 2023, but the commitment for adaptation finance is $40bn by the current year.
The assessed annual requirement for adaptation finance stands at $310bn. Accelerated glacial melt could reduce flows in the Indus River system by 20 to 30 per cent by 2050.
Pakistan submitted three requests totalling $58m for agricultural recovery, climate-resilient health systems in Balochistan and rehabilitation of flood-damaged fisheries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage. No allocation has been made to Pakistan's requests from the Loss and Damage fund, which had $342 million available for its pilot phase.
The fund's first allocation decisions are expected in December 2026. The majority of Pakistan's population is under 30.
Pakistan will participate in the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.
