PM Shehbaz arrives in Turkiye to address COP31 summit

Turkiye welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday, marking the beginning of his three-day visit for the Leaders’ Summit of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Accompanied by senior Pakistani officials, the premier was greeted by Turkish Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Gökhan Yazgı, Pakistan's Ambassador-designate Amna Baloch, and other high-ranking officials.

At the summit, Shehbaz Sharif will emphasize Pakistan's climate priorities and the urgent need for global climate action to combat the adverse impacts of climate change. He will also participate in a high-level dialogue on clean energy transition and electrification, titled "35 by 35: Powering the Future," which will take place at 3pm local time.

Pakistan has established a "Pakistan Pavilion" at the COP31 venue, where 54 events will be held on various themes. The Foreign Office has highlighted Pakistan's efforts to expand renewable energy capacity and strengthen disaster preparedness and early-warning systems. Sharif will call for predictable, adequate, and accessible climate finance for developing countries to enhance their resilience and pursue sustainable development.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged nations to transition away from fossil fuels, even as Turkey celebrated the discovery of new oil reserves. Despite this, Guterres stressed that an accelerated transition away from fossil fuels is crucial to address the ongoing climate crisis, which threatens to surpass the 1.5°C temperature target. The contrasting perspectives on fossil fuels reveal the central challenge in reaching a consensus on the pace of the global shift towards cleaner energy sources.