Norway to support Pakistan’s green energy shift with EV expertise

January 14, 2025 (MLN): Norway to collaborate with Pakistan in mitigating the impacts of climate change by supporting its transition to green energy, citing Norway’s successful implementation of electric vehicles (EVs) as an example.

This statement was made by the former Prime Minister of Norway, Kjell Magne Bondevik, during his meeting with Romina Khurshid Alam, the Coordinator to the Prime Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC), as per the press release issued.

Secretary of MoCC, Aisha Humera Moriani further shared that Pakistan is actively pursuing water desalination technologies to conserve fresh water and that incentives are being provided for the adoption of clean energy technologies.

She also pointed out that Pakistan's greatest challenge lies in accessing climate finance while addressing the meeting.

Romina Khurshid emphasized Pakistan’s determination to learn from international experiences in addressing climate challenges, particularly in transitioning to green energy.

She further highlighted the severe impacts of climate change on Pakistan, noting that heatwaves, floods, and droughts have disproportionately affected the mental health of women and adolescent girls.

Alam praised Bondevik's strong advocacy for human rights and stressed the importance of global cooperation to combat human rights abuses, specifically referencing violations in Kashmir.

She also discussed the devastating effects of the 2022 floods, which resulted in massive population displacement in Sindh and other regions, and led to significant financial, social, psychological, and health issues, including skin diseases in Balochistan.

“We are looking for your support in climate diplomacy, not just for Pakistan but for all vulnerable countries”, Romina Khurshid said.

“Climate change has hit Pakistan hard, and we have been ranked fifth in terms of vulnerability,” she further added.

“We are a resilient nation, and we are working hard to implement measures that will help mitigate the impact of climate change”, she noted.

She explained that while investment is important, it is not enough to address the immediate need for rehabilitation in areas affected by heat waves and the melting of glaciers.

“We cannot allocate loan amounts for rehabilitation efforts,” Moriani said. “These funds should be directed towards the country’s GDP growth, not for recovering from climate disasters.”

In a gesture of goodwill, PM Coordinator on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam presented souvenirs and Pakistani-made footballs to the members of the Norwegian delegation.

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