Justice Shah lauds Pakistan’s unique role at cop29
ISLAMABAD: Senior Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, lauded Pakistan’s pioneering role at the recently concluded COP29 held in Baku.
Speaking as the guest of honour at the “Post-COP Reflections from Baku to Pakistan” seminar organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), he congratulated Romina Khurshid Alam, the Prime Minister’s aide on climate change, for leading an unprecedented delegation of judges to the global climate summit, according to a press release.PM’s climate coordinator lauded for bringing together global judicial fraternity for climate justice
Justice Shah highlighted that Pakistan was uniquely represented by a judiciary-led delegation, a distinction acknowledged by the Global Judges Network, which recognized the significance of including judicial insights in addressing climate issues.
He stressed the connection between climate justice and human rights, framing it as an essential perspective for addressing environmental challenges. “Traditionally, courts have addressed pollution-related cases through punitive measures, but we are now seeing a fundamental shift. Climate justice goes beyond addressing individual polluters and extends to systemic issues like extreme weather events, floods, droughts, and glacial melting,” he stated.
Justice Shah further emphasized that COP29 brought the urgency of climate finance into focus as a critical component of climate justice. “Climate finance is not merely a policy goal; it is a fundamental human right tied to the right to life. Rapid funding access for loss and damage is crucial, while adaptation efforts are inherently slower,” he said, adding that global discussions on climate finance often remain superficial.
He also mentioned the delayed establishment of the Climate Change Authority in Pakistan and underscored the importance of innovative financing solutions such as Zakat, Waqf (endowments), Sadaqah (voluntary charity), and Sukuk bonds under Islamic finance to bridge climate funding gaps.
Justice Shah called for greater integration of climate science into policy-making for effective climate finance strategies. He proposed the establishment of Climate Alternate Dispute Resolution Centers and specialized Climate Courts in Pakistan to address emerging disputes arising from climate impacts.
“Pakistan should champion the creation of a global climate court, similar to the International Court of Justice, to hold the Global North accountable for its disproportionate contribution to climate damage,” he urged.
In his concluding remarks, Justice Shah delivered a profound message, stating that Earth should not be regarded as a resource to exploit but as a shared community. “We must transform our approach to environmental management and embrace reparative justice to address historical climate injustices,” he said.
Romina Khurshid Alam, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, remarked, “Pakistan achieved remarkable milestones at COP29.” She highlighted that all sectors of Pakistan, including the judiciary, played an essential role in addressing environmental challenges.
She further emphasized the judiciary’s proactive involvement in climate and environmental justice, describing it as a groundbreaking development.
