PM Shehbaz joins world leaders at COP31, will outline Pakistan’s climate priorities

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined global leaders at the COP31 Antalya Leaders' Summit in Turkey's Mediterranean resort city of Antalya on Wednesday. The summit brings together nearly 200 countries as greenhouse gas emissions show little sign of decreasing and world crises compete for political attention. Prior to the conference, PM Shehbaz was welcomed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

World leaders, including PM Shehbaz, posed for a group photograph at the summit. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) stated that Shehbaz will highlight Pakistan's climate priorities and stress the urgent need for enhanced global climate action and strengthened international cooperation to mitigate climate change's adverse impacts.

The Foreign Office announced that Shehbaz will showcase Pakistan's efforts in solarization, expanding its renewable energy capacity, and reinforcing disaster preparedness and early-warning systems. He will also advocate for predictable, adequate, and accessible climate finance for developing countries to bolster their resilience and sustainable development.

Additionally, Shehbaz will take part in a high-level dialogue on the clean energy transition and electrification titled "35 by 35: Powering the Future." On the sidelines, he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other world leaders to discuss matters of mutual interest and explore opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation.

A "Pakistan Pavilion" has been established at the summit, where 54 events will be held on various themes. UN Secretary-General Guterres warned that the world is on a path to destruction due to the slow international response to climate change, emphasizing the necessity of fighting harder to protect the planet for future generations.