Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Antalya, Republic of Türkiye, on Tuesday for a three-day official visit to attend the Leaders’ Summit of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Upon his arrival, the Prime Minister was received by Gökhan Yazgı, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, Amna Baloch, Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to Türkiye, and other senior Turkish officials, according to a Prime Minister’s Office news release. The premier is accompanied by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, adviser Tariq Fatemi, and PPP Senator and former climate minister Sherry Rehman.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to address the COP31 Antalya Leaders’ Summit on Wednesday, November 11. According to the Foreign Office, he will urge the global community to take concrete actions against the threat of climate change. He will highlight Pakistan’s steps toward rapid solarisation, the expansion of renewable energy capacity, and efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and early-warning systems. The Prime Minister will also call for predictable, adequate and accessible climate finance for developing countries to pursue sustainable development and strengthen resilience.
Additionally, the Prime Minister will address the High-Level Dialogue on Clean Energy Transition and Electrification, titled “35 by 35: Powering the Future.” He is also expected to attend a high-level roundtable meeting convened by the COP31 presidency and hold bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Erdogan and other world leaders to discuss matters of mutual interest and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
A “Pakistan Pavilion” has been established at the venue to host 54 events on various themes. The Foreign Office stated that the Prime Minister’s participation is an expression of Pakistan’s strong support for the climate agenda and provides an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to working with the international community. The Prime Minister’s Office noted that Pakistan’s previous contributions include active climate diplomacy that led to the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund during COP27.
The summit began on Monday amidst tensions over climate finance. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged nations to plan for a future without fossil fuels, stating that an "accelerated transition away from fossil fuels is fundamental" to rein in temperature rises. Guterres noted that dependence on fossil fuels carries a "steep economic and security price," citing the crisis in the Middle East.
Negotiators have faced a "difficult start" as developing nations pushed to include climate finance on the official agenda. Jasper Inventor, head of Greenpeace’s COP31 delegation, stated that developed countries were "taking a hard line" over including a platform agreed upon at COP30 in Brazil to discuss how wealthy nations provide funds to developing nations. African countries are also pushing for discussions on tripling adaptation finance.
While Turkiye seeks pledges to electrify the global economy, scientists warned that emissions from burning fossil fuels are projected to remain near-record highs for another year. Observers suggest few major breakthroughs are expected due to oil price shocks and geopolitical tensions involving the US war on Iran and Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organisation reported that 2026 has continued a streak of exceptional global temperatures, and the EU’s climate monitor warned that 2026 would most likely be the second-hottest year ever recorded.
