PM Shehbaz Urges World to Honour Climate Change Commitments

Antalya: (Staff Reporter) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged the international community to honour its climate commitments to developing countries and move beyond announcements by taking practical steps to address the growing damage caused by climate change.

Addressing the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, the prime minister stressed that climate change knows no borders and requires collective action rather than promises.

Recalling his warning at a United Nations session four years ago, Shehbaz said he had cautioned that the climate-related challenges facing Pakistan would eventually affect other countries as well. Unfortunately, he added, that warning had now become a reality.

The prime minister highlighted the devastating impact of the 2022 floods, which affected around 33 million people in Pakistan and caused an estimated $30 billion in economic losses. He also acknowledged Türkiye’s support during the disaster, saying the Turkish government and people had stood firmly with Pakistan.

Speaking about Pakistan’s efforts to shift towards cleaner energy, Shehbaz said the country had added 20 gigawatts of solar power to its energy system within two years. He noted that clean energy now accounts for approximately 55 per cent of Pakistan’s total electricity production, while the country’s contribution to global carbon emissions remains below one per cent.

He also referred to the successful installation of the dome at Unit C-5 of the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant, saying the project would add 1,200 megawatts of affordable and environmentally friendly electricity to the national grid.

The prime minister said Pakistan was also advancing towards electric mobility and had set a target of reducing carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2035.

Emphasising the importance of water security, Shehbaz said no country should be allowed to put human lives at risk by using water as a weapon. He called on nations to respect agreements governing shared water resources.

At the conclusion of his address, the prime minister thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the people of Türkiye for their hospitality and arrangements for the conference.

COP31, which began on November 9, is scheduled to continue until November 20 in Antalya. Leaders, government representatives and climate experts from more than 200 countries are attending the gathering to discuss clean energy, climate finance, support for vulnerable countries and implementation of the Paris Agreement.