By Qudrat Ullah
Punjab’s presence at COP-30 in Belém marked an important moment in the evolution of subnational climate diplomacy. Under Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the province did not arrive as a passive observer but as a government attempting to reposition itself, from a climate-impacted region seeking sympathy to a climate-conscious actor offering solutions. This shift in posture, from vulnerability to capability, reflects not only Punjab’s democratic confidence but also the wider transformation underway in Pakistan’s climate governance.
Punjab’s urgency is rooted in lived experience. The devastating floods of 2025, which inundated countless districts and displaced more than 2.6 million people, continue to shape provincial planning, budgeting, and expectations from the international system. For Punjab, climate change is not a distant possibility but an annual disruption to lives and livelihoods. At COP-30, CM Maryam Nawaz foregrounded this reality, arguing that delays in climate finance translate into prolonged suffering on the ground. Her insistence on operationalising the loss-and-damage fund echoed a broader demand from the Global South: climate negotiations must move beyond statements of intent toward timely, equitable support.
But Punjab did not come to Belém armed with vulnerability alone. What distinguished its participation this year was an unusually cohesive effort to present the province as a site of innovation and institutional readiness. The portfolio showcased at COP-30 attempted to demonstrate that Punjab is not waiting helplessly for assistance but is investing in the systems needed to make that assistance effective.
The Suthra Punjab programme, which began as a conventional waste-management effort, has expanded into a digitised model where geotagging, modern collection systems, and recycling pathways convert waste into a resource. In environmental monitoring, Punjab highlighted its network of over 100 air-quality stations, feeding data into an AI-based platform capable of tracking pollution sources with much greater precision than in previous years. The establishment of a Climate Observatory and a “Smog War Room” suggests that the province is moving towards data-anchored governance. International partners increasingly view such systems as prerequisites for climate financing, which makes Punjab’s progress noteworthy.
Clean mobility formed another major pillar of the province’s narrative. Punjab’s announcements at COP-30, deploying 1,500 electric buses, converting 120,000 motorbikes and rickshaws to electric variants, upgrading transit systems, and introducing electric taxis, attempted to signal a decisive shift in urban transport. These proposals were backed by a significant increase in the clean-air budget, from Rs.94 billion to roughly Rs.123 billion. That level of commitment, paired with clearer implementation pathways, made Punjab’s pitch more attractive to multilateral lenders, who increasingly look for bankable climate projects rather than broad policy statements.
Diplomatically, CM Maryam Nawaz adopted an assertive approach. Her meetings with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNDP, and the Global Green Growth Institute aimed to embed Punjab’s initiatives within international financing structures. The new partnership with GGGI, which seeks to convert climate projects into carbon-credit revenue streams, could offer Punjab a steady, long-term financial base for clean transport, afforestation, and agricultural reforms, if the arrangements are executed with transparency. The World Bank’s Climate Change Group director went so far as to call the chief minister Punjab a “climate change warrior,” a remark that indicates the extent to which global organisations are now willing to engage with subnational governments.
One symbolic moment that resonated back home was CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurating the Pakistan Pavilion. Her presence at the forefront of Pakistan’s climate showcase reflected a growing confidence in Punjab’s ability to lead with substance and clarity. It signalled a province stepping forward not just as a climate-affected region but as a proactive contributor to global solutions, offering a model of how local innovation can command international attention.
Beyond diplomacy, however, lies the harder terrain of governance. Punjab’s climate commitments carry social and environmental implications that require careful navigation. Mechanised harvesters, precision farming tools, and stubble-management technologies help reduce emissions, but they often benefit larger farmers first. Without targeted support, smallholders could be left behind. Waste-to-energy projects and land-use reforms may trigger debates about environmental justice and community rights. Similarly, electric-bus corridors could displace informal transport workers unless compensatory arrangements accompany the transition.
For Punjab to strengthen the credibility it earned at COP-30, its climate agenda must continue to translate into better livelihoods and wider opportunities. Many of its initiatives already show this promise. Transparency will be key to sustaining that trust. Climate finance and carbon markets depend on reliable data, and Punjab’s growing monitoring network provides a solid base. By safeguarding data integrity and welcoming independent verification, the province can cement its reputation for accountable, evidence-driven climate action.
Despite the challenges, the opening Punjab created at COP-30 is significant. Across the world, climate governance is becoming increasingly decentralised. Provinces, states, and cities are emerging as frontline implementers of climate policy because they are closest to both the impacts and the solutions. Punjab’s attempt to join this cohort stems partly from necessity, because the threats it faces cannot wait for slow national-level processes, and partly from opportunity, as subnational governments demonstrating administrative readiness and political commitment are gaining greater access to climate finance.
The real test begins after the summit as Punjab works to turn its Belém momentum into tangible progress: electric buses on the roads, air-quality data driving real enforcement, early-warning systems protecting communities, and climate finance reaching farmers and workers who need it most. If Punjab sustains this trajectory, it can not only elevate Pakistan’s climate profile but also emerge as a regional leader in subnational climate action, demonstrating that COP-30 was the start of a lasting transformation, not a momentary spotlight.
COP-30 offered Punjab visibility, validation, and a platform. With the province led by CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif, this platform can now become a springboard for concrete action. Punjab has shown ambition on the world stage; under her leadership, it is well-positioned to turn that ambition into results that benefit both its people and Pakistan’s climate future.
(The writer is a Lahore-based public policy analyst and can be reached at qudratu@gmail.com)
