Daily Times

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the COP29 Climate Action Summit in Baku, urging swift global action and support for countries most affected by climate change.

In his opening remarks, Shehbaz congratulated Azerbaijan’s president for hosting the event and highlighted the severe consequences faced by Pakistan and other vulnerable nations due to climate change. “Without timely action, the damage will only worsen,” he warned.

PM Sharif spoke about Pakistan’s ongoing recovery from the devastating 2022 floods triggered by environmental changes, which inflicted over $30 billion in damages, destroyed vast areas of crops, leveled countless buildings including schools, and displaced thousands of people.

He emphasized that despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Pakistan is among the top 10 countries most impacted by climate change. “The world pledged to assist Pakistan after the environmental disaster,” he reminded the audience.

Shehbaz called on global leaders to fulfill the commitments made at COP28, noting that financial aid for climate-related damages has yet to be fully delivered. “Without prompt action, we face the risk of even greater catastrophes. We don’t want other countries to suffer as Pakistan did,” he cautioned.

He detailed Pakistan’s climate resilience initiatives, including the creation of a National Carbon Market Framework and the ambitious goal of transitioning 30% of vehicles to alternative energy by 2030. “The world must step up to support developing nations like Pakistan,” he asserted.

Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to investing in alternative energy, stressing the urgent need for environmental protection to secure a safer future. He also noted that developing countries require $6.8 trillion to meet Vision 2030, emphasizing that climate finance should come in the form of grants rather than loans, as additional debt is unsustainable for these nations.

He praised PPP leader Sherry Rehman for her strong actions on climate change and warned that failing to act will result in severe losses. He recalled his statement from two years ago about the need for comprehensive future measures.

Concluding his speech, PM Sharif appealed for international cooperation, stating, “We cannot combat environmental pollution on our own. We need the support and assistance of the global community.”