ANTALYA (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Antalya, Turkiye, to participate in the World Leaders’ Summit at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31), where he is scheduled to highlight Pakistan’s climate priorities and call for stronger international cooperation to address the growing challenges of climate change.
The prime minister arrived in the Turkish city on Tuesday to attend the high-level gathering being held under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Upon his arrival at Antalya Airport, the Pakistani premier was received by Turkiye’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gokhan Yazgi, Pakistan’s designated Ambassador to Turkiye, Amina Baloch, and senior Turkish officials.
The visit will provide Pakistan with an opportunity to present its climate-related concerns and priorities before international leaders, particularly regarding the increasing impact of climate change on vulnerable countries.
Pakistan’s climate priorities
During the COP31 World Leaders’ Summit, PM Shehbaz will address participating leaders and emphasise the need for urgent and effective global action to tackle the adverse effects of climate change.
He is expected to underline Pakistan’s position on strengthening international cooperation in line with agreed principles and commitments, while calling for coordinated efforts to address climate-related challenges.
Pakistan has repeatedly highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on developing and vulnerable nations, despite their relatively limited contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions.
The prime minister will also address a high-level dialogue on transitioning towards renewable energy and promoting electricity generation. The discussion is expected to focus on the importance of sustainable energy solutions and accelerating the shift towards cleaner sources of power.
Bilateral meetings
Alongside his participation in the summit, Shehbaz Sharif is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders attending COP31.
His engagements are expected to include a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with discussions likely to cover matters of mutual interest and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye.
The meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss shared priorities, international developments and areas of cooperation between Pakistan and participating countries.
Pakistan Pavilion at COP31
Pakistan has also established a dedicated pavilion at COP31 in Antalya, featuring a programme of 54 events covering various climate-related themes.
The pavilion will serve as a platform to highlight Pakistan’s climate initiatives, experiences and priorities while providing opportunities for engagement with international participants, policymakers and climate experts.
Pakistan’s participation in previous COP conferences has included active climate diplomacy, particularly its efforts to secure international support for countries suffering the consequences of climate-related disasters.
One of the country's significant diplomatic achievements came during COP27 in Egypt, when the Loss and Damage Fund was approved to support vulnerable nations facing the devastating effects of climate change.
Pakistan played an active role in pushing for the establishment of the fund, which marked an important development in international climate negotiations and efforts to address losses and damages caused by climate-related events.