Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Antalya, Türkiye, on Tuesday for a two-day visit to take part in the Leaders’ Summit of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, according to the Foreign Office.
The prime minister is scheduled to address the summit on November 11, where he will urge the international community to take practical steps against the escalating threat of climate change.
Solar Push and Disaster Preparedness in Focus
In his address, Sharif will spotlight Pakistan’s efforts to accelerate solarisation and expand renewable energy capacity as part of its shift towards a cleaner, more climate-resilient economy. He will also outline government initiatives aimed at improving disaster preparedness and strengthening early-warning systems.
Central to his message will be a call for predictable, adequate and easily accessible climate financing for developing countries, enabling them to build resilience against climate-related shocks and pursue sustainable development.
Diplomatic Engagements on the Sidelines
Beyond the Leaders’ Summit, the premier will join a high-level roundtable convened by the COP31 presidency. He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with Turkish leaders and several other heads of state and government.
The Foreign Office said Pakistan’s participation underscores its commitment to the global climate agenda and its readiness to work with the international community in confronting the climate crisis.
Financing Divide Dominates Negotiations
Climate negotiations opened in Antalya on Monday, with climate financing emerging as an early flashpoint between developed and developing nations. Talks over the official agenda ran late into Sunday as developing countries pressed for greater priority on funding and financial support from wealthier nations.
Under international climate agreements, developed countries are expected to help developing nations adapt to climate impacts and transition to cleaner energy. Developing countries argue that available funding remains insufficient, and are seeking increased adaptation financing for measures such as sea walls and drought-resistant crops.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged world leaders to act more decisively after a year marked by heatwaves, wildfires and devastating floods. Observers, however, expect limited progress at this year’s summit amid geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and disputes over climate funding.
Warnings Over Record Heat
The World Meteorological Organisation has warned that 2026 has continued the trend of exceptionally high global temperatures, melting ice and rising sea levels. The European Union’s climate monitoring service has indicated that 2026 is likely to become the second-hottest year on record.
In September, the United Nations warned that global temperatures were on course to exceed the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold above pre-industrial levels — the most ambitious limit set under the Paris Agreement.
