Recharge Pakistan Initiative Launched to Combat Climate Vulnerabilities

ISLAMABAD: Green Climate Fund Announces $66 Million for Pakistan’s Climate Resilience Initiative

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has committed $66 million to support Pakistan’s efforts in combating the dual climate challenges of flooding and drought, while enhancing resilience in some of the country’s most vulnerable communities. The project, titled “Recharge Pakistan: Building Pakistan’s Resilience to Climate Change through Ecosystem-Based Adaptation for Integrated Flood Risk Management,” represents the largest national-level investment in an ecosystem-based approach to managing floods and water resources.

This new seven-year initiative, launched in response to the devastating floods that submerged one-third of Pakistan and displaced millions in 2022, brings together a diverse coalition of funders. Alongside GCF’s contribution, an additional $12 million in investment and technical support comes from The Coca-Cola Foundation, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and WWF-Pakistan. The project’s primary goal is to reduce the vulnerability of both people and ecosystems to the growing impacts of climate change, with a particular focus on the Indus Basin river system.

The initiative aims to transform Pakistan’s approach to flood and water resource management, adopting nature-based solutions that will not only enhance climate resilience but also provide broader community benefits. The program focuses on local watershed sites in DI Khan, the Ramak Watershed, and Manchar Lake, demonstrating the effectiveness of ecosystem-based adaptation and green infrastructure while promoting their integration into national policies.

“Recent years have brought an unprecedented series of climate disasters worldwide, with the 2022 floods in Pakistan among the most severe,” said Carter Roberts, President and CEO of WWF-US. “The funding announced by GCF, along with commitments from The Coca-Cola Foundation and USAID, represents a decisive step toward addressing the challenges faced by communities that experience the harshest climate impacts. While no intervention can fully prevent future climate disasters, the nature-based solutions funded through this project will help local communities restore what was lost and build resilience for the future.”

The Recharge Pakistan initiative, in collaboration with Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change, the Federal Flood Commission, and local communities, includes several key components. These involve the restoration and reforestation of 14,215 hectares of forests and wetlands, the rehabilitation of 34 kilometers of water flow paths, the development of 127 recharge basins and retention areas, and the strengthening of climate resilience for seven local businesses in agriculture and forestry. The project is expected to directly benefit over 680,000 people and indirectly benefit more than 7 million across the country.

With this comprehensive approach, Recharge Pakistan aims to secure long-term climate resilience, improve water security, and ensure sustainable livelihoods for communities vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.