The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, showcased its climate resilience strategies and ambitious plans to harness carbon markets at a high-profile side event at COP29, held at the Pakistan Pavilion in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event brought together leading policymakers, climate finance experts, and international development partners to discuss KP’s unique challenges and opportunities in addressing climate change.
The event commenced with a detailed presentation by Additional Chief Secretary Ikramullah Khan, who highlighted KP’s acute climate vulnerabilities, including the increasing frequency of floods, landslides, and deforestation impacts. Despite these challenges, he emphasized the immense potential of the province to lead the way in carbon sequestration through innovative projects. The presentation underscored KP’s natural resources and its strategic focus on developing a climate finance pipeline to tap into global carbon markets.
Following this, Junaid Dyar, the Project Director for the Billion Tree Tsunami project, provided a comprehensive overview of KP’s afforestation initiatives. He outlined the project’s significant achievements in restoring degraded ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity, and creating opportunities for generating carbon credits. The audience was given a clear picture of how such large-scale projects can position KP as a leader in regional climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
The event also included a high-profile panel discussion. The panel discussion was moderated by Hasaan Khawar, the Team Leader for the FCDO-funded SEED Programme, which is actively supporting KP in developing a climate finance transactions pipeline. The panel included prominent speakers.
Shahid Zaman, Secretary Forest and Climate Change for KP elaborated how the province is planning to use its wide forest base to tap into the carbon markets. Nick Haslam, an international climate finance expert, outlined strategies for KP to secure global climate financing by building institutional capacity and engaging the private sector. Kashmali Khan, representing Adam Smith International, highlighted the importance of international collaborations and knowledge-sharing to drive innovation in KP’s climate initiatives.
Mr. Muzammil Aslam, Finance Advisor to the KP Government, emphasized the economic potential of climate initiatives, noting that the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami project is expected to generate 10 million jobs across Pakistan, with KP playing a pivotal role in this achievement. He also highlighted KP’s success in leveraging public-private partnerships (PPPs) to implement renewable energy projects, eco-tourism zones, and afforestation programs and emphasized that KP will be co-investing with any interested international investor in scaling KP’s climate action efforts.
Faisal Amin Khan, the Climate Change Lead at the Chief Minister’s Office, gave concluding remarks and dedicated the event to the forest workers who lost their lives while fighting forest fires. He acknowledged their sacrifices as a testament to KP’s commitment to environmental conservation. Faisal Amin Khan also reaffirmed the government’s dedication to climate resilience, announcing that next year KP will present the results of the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami project.
The event served as a powerful platform to highlight KP’s leadership in climate resilience and its efforts to align with international best practices. By addressing climate vulnerabilities while leveraging its immense natural resources, the province is positioning itself as a model for subnational governments globally.
As the event concluded, participants praised KP’s forward-thinking initiatives and committed to supporting its journey toward climate adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable economic growth.
