Collaboration for a climate-smart future - Highlights from the Sustainable Development Conference & Expo 2025
At the 2025 Sustainable Investment Expo and the Sustainable Development Conference, the Pakistan-German Climate and Energy Partnership highlighted how technical and financial cooperation come together to advance Pakistan’s climate and energy priorities.
From 4 -7 November, the Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad transformed into a hub of climate dialogue and innovation. As one of the lead partners of the Sustainable Investment Expo and Sustainable Development Conference, organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), the GIZ Pakistan and KfW jointly showcased how technical expertise and financial cooperation come together to advance Pakistan’s climate and energy priorities, directly contributing to SDG 7 (Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Under the theme, “Collaboration for a Climate-Smart Future”, the Pakistan-German Climate and Energy Partnership (PGCEP) anchored the engagement. With participants from 23 countries and 92 international organisations, the week reflected a shared commitment: climate action must move from discussion to delivery.
From Dialogue to Delivered Action
The event's opening plenary featured high-level remarks from Mr. Arno Kirchhof, Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy Islamabad. He who was joined by Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Federal Minister for Planning & Development, and Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Minister for Board of Investment.
Mr. Kirchhof reaffirmed Germany’s long-standing partnership with Pakistan, one that has already supported over 12,000 MW of renewable energy generation in the country. He emphasised the importance of practical, locally driven innovation, noting:
“As the needs grow, the German government remains fully committed to continuing and intensifying our support to Pakistan in tackling climate and energy challenges.”
Closing the conference, Mr. Abrar Ahmad, Sector Specialist at the KfW Development Bank, underscored the importance of turning dialogue into delivery:
“Let us take this momentum forward by deepening cooperation between public and private sectors, by translating innovative ideas into implementable projects, and by ensuring that the benefits of green growth reach all communities, especially those most affected by climate change.”
Building Capacity for Sustainable Future
A major element of Germany’s engagement was the Capacity Hub, a space for hands-on learning designed to equip practitioners with actionable tools. More than 250 participants joined four technical workshops:
- Battery Storage Systems: led by GIZ Pakistan, this session unpacked the technical roadmap for residential and industrial-scale storage, a critical component for grid stability in Pakistan.
- Community-Based Early Warning: The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) presented its model, focusing on localised risk management driven by the community.
- Risk Thinking in Development: participants were trained in integrating early-stage risk screen into development planning to safeguard future infrastructure.
- Financing the Change: KfW guided participants through the complex landscape of financial cooperation mechanisms available for the climate and energy sectors.
Pakistan-German Climate and Energy Partnership Stall
The PGCEP stall served as an interactive knowledge space showcasing Germany’s support to Pakistan’s energy transition and climate resilience. Using a “digital-first” approach, visitors used QR codes for instant access to recent policy papers on topics like textile decarbonisation, micro-hydropower, battery storage, urban resilience, and gender-inclusive energy solutions.
Expanding Reach through Digital Dialogue
To make the conversations accessible beyond the venue, GIZ and KfW produced two fireside chats and a podcast episode, each exploring German-Pakistani cooperation from a different angle:
- Fireside Chat - Shaping Impact Together: Focused on how technical and financial cooperation complement each other for long-term development impact.
- Fireside Chat - Collaborating for Change: Showcased how partnerships with civil society and community organisations drive grounded, scalable climate results.
- Podcast: Blueprints of Hope: Discussed the UNDP/KfW Flood Recovery Programme, exploring how the 2022 floods reshaped planning around accountability and community needs
“German Development Cooperation’s participation at the Expo and Conference was guided by the PGCEP mandate: to bring the full German portfolio together for Pakistan’s climate and energy transition. The engagement throughout the week underscored our long-term commitment to this shared goal”. – Kim Brinkmann, PGCEP Advisor
