Shehbaz calls for grant-based climate finance at COP31
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday called for grant-based climate financing and a significant increase in resilience and adaptation funds, saying vulnerable countries need timely financial assistance that doesn’t add to their debt burden.
Speaking at a high-level COP31 session in Antalya, Turkiye, he called for greater international solidarity with countries bearing the brunt of climate change, particularly developing nations.
“When climate disasters strike, vulnerable countries need timely assistance and financing that does not deepen their debt. We call for grant-based finance, including public-private partnerships, alongside a significant increase in resilience and adaptation funds, which are essential for the survival of struggling economies,” he said.
“Climate change knows no borders. No nation can face it alone,” the prime minister added.
Recalling Pakistan’s devastating 2022 floods, PM Shehbaz said nearly one-third of the country had been submerged, standing crops had been washed away, and millions of acres of land inundated.
He said the floods affected 33 million people, claimed more than 1,700 lives and caused economic losses exceeding $30 billion.
The prime minister also recounted the story of a man who was preparing for his wedding when floodwaters swept through his home, turning what should have been a celebration into a scene of mourning.
He said the incident reflected the suffering of millions of people in Pakistan and across the developing world who had borne the consequences of climate-related disasters.
“Four years ago at the UN, I warned that what happened in Pakistan would not stay in Pakistan. Unfortunately, that warning has become a stark reality. The future we feared has become the present we are living,” he said.
PM Shehbaz acknowledged the Turkish leadership’s support for Pakistan during the devastating floods of 2010 and 2022.
He also stressed that water should never be used as a weapon, saying no country should be allowed to put the lives and livelihoods of downstream populations at risk.
“Water should never be weaponised. No nation should be allowed to put the lives and livelihoods of people downstream at risk. Water-sharing agreements must be honoured in letter and spirit,” he said.
Shehbaz meets Finnish president
PM Shehbaz met President of Finland Alexander Stubb on the sidelines of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Antalya, Turkiye. The meeting provided an opportunity to review Pakistan–Finland relations and strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to translate the longstanding and friendly relations into a forward-looking partnership encompassing trade and investment, education and skills development, technology, climate resilience and people-to-people contacts.
PM Shehbaz noted the considerable potential to increase bilateral trade and welcomed the presence of Finnish companies including Nokia, Wärtsilä, Metso and Vaisala in Pakistan. He encouraged greater business-to-business engagement, technology transfer and investment in telecommunications, advanced manufacturing, clean technologies and mining.
The two leaders exchanged views on climate change, disaster risk reduction and environmental cooperation. PM Shehbaz expressed interest in Finnish technical expertise in flood forecasting, water management, climate-resilient agriculture, glacier monitoring and early-warning systems.
Underlining the importance of dialogue, mediation and peaceful settlement, the two leaders exchanged views on ongoing diplomatic efforts for peaceful and durable solutions to the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. President Stubb appreciated Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue and mediation between Iran and the United States.
The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining regular engagement and exploring practical avenues to deepen bilateral cooperation. The prime minister reiterated the invitation to President Stubb to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient time.
Meeting with Sudanese leader
Separately, PM Shehbaz also met General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, president of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council, on the sidelines of the COP31 high-level segment in Antalya.
During the meeting, Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding ties with Sudan and reiterated Islamabad’s support for the country’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
He also expressed solidarity with the Sudanese people amid the challenges facing their country.
The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations in various areas of mutual interest. They also exchanged views on climate change and emphasised the need for greater international cooperation to address its impact, particularly on developing countries.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close coordination at multilateral forums.