Islamabad:French Ambassador Nicolas Galey has reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s efforts to address climate change, saying his country will continue working with both the government and civil society to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis.
During a ceremony held here to mark the fourth edition of the Gender and Climate Award, the envoy highlighted France’s longstanding development partnership with Pakistan and its focus on climate resilience, inclusivity and gender equality.
"In Pakistan, since 2006, the Agence Française de Développement has been supporting more than 40 projects, worth more than 1.5 billion euros committed in several sectors and with the joint criteria of gender equality and climate co-benefits... We will certainly continue to support the Pakistani civil society and Pakistan’s government in the fight against climate change and its impact, with special attention towards inclusivity and gender equality," he said.
Ambassador Galey said the Gender and Climate Award was designed to recognise the contributions of Pakistani women who are driving climate action within their communities, often under challenging circumstances.
He noted that the initiative continued to gain momentum, with more than 350 applications received this year, reflecting both its growing relevance and the diverse role women play in tackling environmental challenges.
"This year’s winners struck our jury with the quality of their work and its impact: for Zillay Mariam, in green enterprise and technological solutions for plastic and organic waste; for Songul Jamal, in the protection of the fragile coral ecosystems. All my congratulations to them for their engagement and perseverance," he said.
The envoy said promoting gender equality and combating climate change remained central pillars of French foreign policy. He noted that France was among the first countries to formally adopt a feminist diplomacy framework in 2019.
"Our 2025-2030 strategy for feminist diplomacy clearly acknowledges that climate change and related disasters disproportionately affect women," he said. Referring to international climate commitments, Ambassador Galey said France and the European Union had continued efforts to mobilise governments, civil society organisations and the private sector in support of climate action, despite growing global challenges.
He recalled that last November marked the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement adopted at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference and that sustained international cooperation remained essential to addressing the climate crisis.
Ambassador Galey said Pakistan was among the countries most vulnerable to climate-related risks, underscoring the importance of continued support for adaptation and resilience-building initiatives.
He congratulated the winners of the fourth Gender and Climate Award and commended their contributions to environmental protection and sustainable development.
