ANTALYA, Türkiye,: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined world leaders at the COP31 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya on Wednesday. He is expected to press for stronger international climate action and more reliable financing for developing countries, according to Pakistani officials.
The prime minister arrived in Antalya on Tuesday, November 10, on an official visit to take part in the leaders’ summit of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. He was received by Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gökhan Yazgı, along with senior Turkish officials and Pakistan’s ambassador-designate to Türkiye, Amna Baloch.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office said Sharif would use his address to highlight the country’s climate priorities and the need for enhanced global cooperation to limit the adverse effects of climate change. The Foreign Office said he would call for predictable, adequate and accessible climate finance to help developing countries build resilience and pursue sustainable development.
Clean energy and disaster preparedness on the agenda
Sharif is also scheduled to speak at a high-level dialogue on clean energy transition and electrification, convened by the COP31 presidency under the theme “35 by 35: Powering the Future”. According to the Foreign Office, he will outline Pakistan’s expansion of solar power and renewable energy, along with steps to improve disaster preparedness and early-warning systems.
Dunya News reported that the prime minister would also present Pakistan’s national statement on climate justice and attend a gala dinner hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for visiting leaders. Bilateral meetings with Erdoğan and other leaders on the summit sidelines are also planned. Pakistan has not yet released details of those meetings.
Why climate finance matters for Pakistan
Pakistan has repeatedly said it bears a disproportionate burden of climate impacts despite producing a small share of global greenhouse gas emissions. The 2022 floods affected 33 million people and caused more than $30 billion in damage and economic losses, according to a joint assessment by the government and development partners including the World Bank. Severe monsoon flooding in 2025 also caused widespread displacement and heavy losses, according to a World Bank assessment published this year.
COP31 is being held in Antalya from November 9 to 20, and the leaders’ summit runs on November 11 and 12. Climate finance has emerged as an early point of contention. Media reports said the opening session was delayed by about 90 minutes amid disagreement over developing countries’ demand for a separate agenda item on tripling adaptation finance, which was not approved.
