ISLAMABAD: The federal government has appointed Hamza Farrukh as the first Chairperson of the Pakistan Climate Change Authority (PCCA), giving formal leadership to the key federal institution established to strengthen the country’s climate governance framework.

The appointment was approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following which the Establishment Division issued a formal notification. Farrukh has been appointed as Chairperson for a two-year term.

Hamza Farrukh has experience in climate technology and sustainable development. He is the founder of Hydrosun Technologies and has previously served as a Vice President at Goldman Sachs in London. He holds master’s degrees from Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability and Graduate School of Business, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Williams College.

Establishment of the Pakistan Climate Change Authority

The Pakistan Climate Change Authority was created under the Pakistan Climate Change Act, 2017. Section 5 of the Act provides for the establishment of the Authority by the federal government, with its headquarters in Islamabad.

The federal government formally notified the establishment of the Pakistan Climate Change Authority on May 17, 2024. Its establishment came amid growing concerns over the impact of climate change on Pakistan, including floods, extreme heat, drought, glacier-related risks and other environmental threats.

Under the law, the Authority is mandated to play a central role in coordinating policies and measures relating to climate change adaptation and mitigation. Its responsibilities also include coordination between federal and provincial governments, climate finance, and efforts related to Pakistan’s international climate commitments.

The Authority’s structure includes the Chairperson as well as members responsible for areas including adaptation, mitigation, climate finance and coordination, along with representation from the provinces.

Pakistan is among the countries facing significant exposure to the impacts of climate change. Recurrent floods, heatwaves, water scarcity, droughts, changing glacier patterns and risks to coastal areas have made climate adaptation and resilience increasingly important components of national policy.

With Hamza Farrukh becoming the Authority’s first Chairperson, a key challenge will be to translate the legal framework into an effective institutional mechanism, strengthen coordination between federal and provincial institutions, and improve implementation of national climate policies and programmes.