Shehbaz arrives in Türkiye for COP31

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Antalya, Türkiye, on Tuesday for a three-day visit to attend the Leaders' Summit of the 31st United

ANTALYA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Antalya, Türkiye, on Tuesday for a three-day visit to attend the Leaders’ Summit of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), where he is scheduled to address world leaders on Wednesday.

The prime minister was received upon arrival by Türkiye’s Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Gökhan Yazgı, Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate Amna Baloch and senior Turkish officials, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Shehbaz is accompanied by PPP Senator and former climate minister Sherry Rehman, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Adviser Tariq Fatemi.

During the summit, the prime minister is expected to present Pakistan’s climate priorities and call for stronger international cooperation to address the growing threats posed by climate change.

He will also highlight the need for developed countries to support vulnerable nations through adequate, accessible and predictable climate financing, enabling them to strengthen resilience and pursue sustainable development.

According to the Foreign Office, Shehbaz will showcase Pakistan’s efforts to accelerate solarisation, expand renewable energy capacity and move towards a cleaner and more climate-resilient economy. He will also highlight initiatives aimed at improving disaster preparedness and strengthening early-warning systems.

The premier is also scheduled to participate in a high-level dialogue on clean energy transition and electrification convened by the COP31 presidency. The session, titled “35 by 35: Powering the Future”, is scheduled for 3pm local time.

A dedicated Pakistan Pavilion has also been established at the conference venue, where 54 events will be organised on different climate-related themes.

On the sidelines of the summit, Shehbaz is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other international leaders to discuss matters of mutual interest and strengthen cooperation.

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged world leaders at COP31 to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, warning that continued dependence on coal, oil and gas was intensifying the climate crisis.

Addressing the gathering, Guterres said a faster shift towards cleaner energy was essential to prevent global temperatures from exceeding the internationally agreed 1.5-degree Celsius limit. He also warned that dependence on fossil fuels carried serious economic and security risks, particularly amid instability in the Middle East.

However, Türkiye’s position highlighted the challenges surrounding the global energy transition. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently welcomed the discovery of two oil fields believed to contain potentially 135 million barrels of crude oil.

The contrasting positions reflect continuing divisions among countries over the pace of reducing dependence on conventional energy sources.

The COP31 summit opened on Monday amid renewed calls for stronger climate commitments and increased financial support for developing countries. Discussions are taking place against the backdrop of extreme weather events, including heatwaves in Europe, wildfires in Indonesia and devastating floods in Nepal.

The conference is also expected to address the growing pressure on governments to translate previous climate pledges into practical measures, particularly following the failure of earlier negotiations to secure clear progress on phasing out fossil fuels.