Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged world leaders to turn climate commitments into action, calling for grant-based financing for vulnerable nations without increasing their debt burdens.
Addressing the COP31 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya, on Thursday, he stressed the need to expand climate adaptation and resilience funds and strengthen public-private partnerships.
PM Shehbaz recalled Pakistan’s devastating 2022 floods, which affected around 33 million people and submerged nearly one-third of the country. He highlighted Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate disasters despite contributing less than 1% of global carbon emissions.
Shehbaz emphasised that climate change transcends borders and requires collective international efforts.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged governments to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels, warning that the climate crisis was advancing faster than global efforts to address it.
COP31 will continue until November 20, although geopolitical tensions and energy market disruptions are expected to complicate progress on climate commitments.
Pakistan secures $500 million ADB financing for disaster response
