ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif departed for Antalya, Türkiye, on Tuesday to attend the COP31 Leaders’ Summit, where he is scheduled to urge stronger international action on climate change and greater financial support for developing countries.
The three-day visit, running from November 10 to 12, places Pakistan’s climate priorities before world leaders gathering under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The prime minister will address the summit on November 11. He is expected to appeal for climate funding that developing countries can access reliably and in sufficient amounts.
Pakistan’s message will link financial assistance with stronger resilience and sustainable development.
The planned appeal highlights the importance Islamabad attaches to international support as governments consider how to respond to climate threats while meeting their development needs.
He is scheduled to outline Pakistan’s expansion of solar power and other renewable energy sources as part of efforts to build a cleaner economy.
He will also discuss measures to improve disaster preparedness and early-warning systems.
These priorities bring together two aspects of Pakistan’s climate agenda: changing how energy is produced and strengthening the country’s ability to anticipate and manage environmental emergencies.
The address will provide an opportunity to explain these priorities to international partners and place Pakistan’s domestic efforts within the wider discussion on climate cooperation.
Shehbaz is expected to attend a roundtable organised by the COP31 presidency. Meetings with Türkiye’s leadership and other world leaders are also included in the announced schedule.
These engagements provide additional opportunities to discuss climate priorities and international cooperation.
However, the programme does not establish that any new funding agreement or bilateral commitment has already been secured.
Antalya Hosts Global Climate Discussions
COP31 is taking place in Antalya from November 9 to 20, with the Leaders’ Summit scheduled for November 11 and 12. The conference brings together governments, negotiators and other participants to advance international climate action.
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For Pakistan, the visit offers a platform to connect its energy transition and disaster preparedness priorities with its appeal for financial support. Attention will now turn to the prime minister’s address and the discussions that follow, as participating countries present their positions on the global climate response.
