BAKU: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday urged the global community to fulfil its financial pledges to address climate change.
Speaking at the Climate Action Summit COP-29 in Baku, the premier expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in honouring financial promises made at previous summits.
He called for climate finance to be grant-based, rather than adding to the debt burden of vulnerable developing countries, emphasising that true resilience cannot be achieved without climate justice.
The Prime Minister highlighted the devastating impact of the 2022 floods in Pakistan, pointing out that while the country contributes less than half a percent of global emissions, it continues to bear the brunt of climate change’s effects.
In his speech, he said that 2022 floods caused more than $30 billion in damages, destroyed thousands of acres of crops, and displaced thousands.
Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to global climate solutions, describing the nation as resilient, hardworking, and responsible.
He outlined key steps his government has taken to address climate challenges, including plans to generate 60% of energy from clean sources and transition 30% of the country’s vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) by the end of this decade.
He also said that Pakistan is poised for a renewable energy revolution, having introduced a national adaptation plan last year and developed a national carbon market framework this year.
However, the Prime Minister emphasized that Pakistan requires international support to achieve its ambitious climate goals.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the UN framework must be followed to deal with climate change during the 29th United Nations Climate Conference (COP 29) in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan on Tuesday.
