Islamabad: Pakistan and the United Kingdom have formalised a comprehensive climate partnership with the launch of the Pakistan-UK Green Compact. The framework aims to enhance climate resilience, accelerate the clean energy transition, and scale up nature-based solutions, including mangrove conservation.
According to Radio Pakistan, the agreement, signed in Islamabad by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik and UK Minister for International Development Jennifer Chapman, unlocks £35 million in targeted support for green development and long-term climate action. Mohammad Saleem Shaikh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, described the Compact as a ‘decisive move towards action-oriented climate cooperation,’ noting that implementation over the next decade will be critical for Pakistan, a country regularly facing floods, heatwaves, and water stress.
The Compact is structured around five core pillars: climate finance and investment, clean energy transition, nature-based solutions, innovation and youth empowerment, and adaptation and resilience. Under the agreement, the UK will work with Pakistan to mobilise public and private climate finance, strengthen regulatory frameworks for green investment, and develop bankable climate projects.
Clean energy forms a central component, with plans to expand solar and wind generation to reduce fossil fuel dependence, improve energy security, and stabilise power costs. Shaikh highlighted that renewable energy is now economically competitive, making the transition both environmentally and financially viable. Nature-based solutions, particularly large-scale mangrove restoration, will protect coastal communities from storm surges and erosion while enhancing biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
The Compact also emphasises innovation and youth engagement. Technical support, mentoring, and access to investors will be provided to climate-smart startups and young innovators, reflecting Pakistan’s recognition of youth-led initiatives as central to future climate solutions. UK Minister Jennifer Chapman, on her first official visit to Pakistan, underscored the urgency of climate action. She highlighted UK support for renewable energy, mangrove and ecosystem restoration, early-warning systems, climate budgeting, and international investment flows.
Shaikh described the Green Compact as ‘a strategic turning point’ in Pakistan-UK relations on climate change. He added that effective implementation over the next ten years is essential for Pakistan to meet its national climate targets. Officials said the partnership builds on the UK’s longstanding development cooperation with Pakistan in education, health, climate resilience, and governance, while introducing new mechanisms for private-sector engagement and academic collaboration.
Both governments view the Compact as a long-term partnership aimed at safeguarding vulnerable communities, strengthening climate systems, and positioning Pakistan as a credible destination for green investment.