Islamabad (GNP): Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Minister Senator Dr Musadik Malik called for closer international collaboration on glacier research, climate innovation and fair climate financing. He was speaking at the Pre-COP31 Dialogue, “From Paris to Antalya: Building Bridges Between the Arctic and the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya Region,” held at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).
Malik pointed to the damage that retreating glaciers inflict on vulnerable communities and said climate finance remains disproportionately concentrated in the major emitting economies.
He proposed a Green Virtual University for international scientific collaboration, dedicated funding for green technology start-ups, and a Green Cloud offering access to publicly funded research. Countries, he said, should move past declarations and toward practical cooperation.
ISSI Director General Ambassador Moin ul Haque noted what glacier loss means for Pakistan’s water, food and energy security. He urged stronger cooperation between Arctic and Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya (HKH) institutions and wider international recognition of risks linked to the cryosphere.
Aisha Khan, Chief Executive of CSCCC, argued for a stronger international framework to protect the cryosphere. Jean-Charles Allard, Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy, reaffirmed France’s commitment to climate cooperation and scientific research. Berk Ece, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Türkiye, said COP31 will focus on implementation, climate finance and the clean energy transition. Umer Siddique, Director General (UN) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed accessible adaptation finance, support for loss and damage, and sharing of transboundary data.
Panellists were Ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel, Chair of the CSCCC Board of Directors; Purushottam Dhungel, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Nepal; Amir Khan Goraya, CEO of NDRMF; Dr Faisal Mueen Qamer of ICIMOD; and Dr Pascal Emmanuel Egli of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. They covered regional cooperation, glacier monitoring, early warning systems, disaster preparedness and community resilience.
Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the ISSI Board of Governors, said climate resilience should be built into national development planning, domestic institutions strengthened and scientific research turned into practical policy.
Also read: FrieslandCampina Engro Announces Financial Results for Q3, 2026
The dialogue was organised jointly by ISSI, CSCCC and the Embassy of France and brought together diplomats, policymakers, researchers and climate experts for an interactive discussion ahead of COP31.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
