Islamabad: Senator Sherry Rehman, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, delivered the closing keynote address at the Policy Action Dialogue on Climate Change. She criticized the creation of new governmental bodies which, she argued, often encroach on provincial powers without improving governance. The event, focused on addressing the impacts of climate change on the cryosphere, water, and food security, highlighted the urgency of integrating local and federal efforts to mitigate these issues.

According to Pakistan Peoples Party, Senator Rehman expressed concerns over the rapid degradation of the cryosphere due to climate change, emphasizing that the melting glaciers in Pakistan pose significant risks to water security and food systems. She advocated for a more integrated approach to policy-making that enhances the agility and accountability of existing governmental structures rather than establishing new ones.

Senator Rehman also highlighted the direct consequences of environmental degradation, such as the threat of Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF), and the need for local solutions like the GLOF program with UNDP, which has shown success in protecting vulnerable communities. Concluding her speech, she called for immediate national action and public engagement to address the ongoing impacts of climate change, underscoring the inability to defer necessary measures any longer.