In a timely move to address Pakistan’s escalating climate crisis, Renewables First and New Energy Nexus have joined forces to launch Climate Innovation Pakistan (CLIP)—a pioneering national platform designed to accelerate the development of indigenous climate tech solutions. Officially launched at the National Incubation Centre, CLIP represents a bold step toward catalyzing technology-driven responses to climate challenges in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations.
Despite contributing less than 0.9% to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan is consistently ranked among the countries most at risk from climate change. This collaboration aims to directly counter this risk by nurturing early-stage climate tech ventures and building a skilled workforce equipped to drive the energy transition.
CLIP’s dual-pronged initiative includes a Climate Tech Incubator by Renewables First, which will offer a curated curriculum for startups developing sustainable solutions, and the New Energy Academy, established by New Energy Nexus, which aims to upskill Pakistan’s solar energy workforce and raise the bar for solar installation quality across the country.
Speaking at the launch, Muhammad Bilal Abbasi, General Manager of Ignite Funds, called CLIP “a valuable addition to the existing ecosystem,” emphasizing its potential to not only promote innovation but also bolster the national economy. He affirmed that Ignite’s own incubators would complement and synergize with the newly launched platform.
Stanley Ng, Global Partnerships Director at New Energy Nexus, emphasized the Academy’s role in enhancing workforce development across Pakistan’s growing solar sector, drawing on New Energy Nexus’s experience across South Asia. Meanwhile, Aafaq Ali, Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Solar Association, welcomed the initiative as a “timely intervention,” given the rising need for quality assurance in solar installations.
As part of the event, Ahtasam Ahmad of Renewables First presented a whitepaper titled “Pakistan’s Climate Tech Opportunity,” identifying the sector’s untapped potential, implementation gaps, and a strategic roadmap for scaling climate tech in Pakistan’s emerging startup ecosystem.
A panel discussion—“The Role of Ecosystem Support Organizations (ESOs) in Building an Investable Climate Tech Pipeline”—further unpacked the sector’s investment needs. Panelists agreed that while impact investing represents the most promising funding route, enabling it will require deeper collaboration between public and private sectors, stronger academia-industry linkages, and customized incubation programs that reflect the unique needs of climate startups.
Sayyed Ahmad Masood emphasized the need for ESOs to abandon “one-size-fits-all” models in favor of tailored support systems that account for a startup’s stage, founder profile, and market dynamics. Echoing this sentiment, Shehryar Hyderi noted that although Pakistan’s startup ecosystem remains in a funding drought, the post-2025 period could witness a micro-recovery, with climate tech emerging as a high-impact sector.
Merai Syed pointed out that the support ecosystem remains misaligned with climate startups’ operational realities, urging academic institutions to undergo a paradigm shift in how they engage with the climate tech space. She stressed the importance of embracing real-world challenges, adapting curricula, and fostering a culture of innovation across campuses.
On the topic of gender inclusion, Zainab Saeed called attention to the systemic barriers faced by women in tech entrepreneurship, especially in climate-focused domains. She urged ESOs to adopt intentional strategies to de-risk investments in women-led ventures, including offering mentorship, capital access, and advocacy against gendered risk perceptions.
The event concluded with a consensus that Pakistan’s climate tech sector is at a critical inflection point. With targeted incubation, expert-led capacity-building, and supportive policy reforms, the country is well-positioned to build a resilient and investable climate tech pipeline. Through CLIP, Renewables First and New Energy Nexus aim to transform Pakistan’s climate risk into an innovation opportunity—setting the stage for long-term environmental and economic impact.
