Shehbaz Sharif Heads to Turkiye for COP31 Summit
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif leaves for Antalya in Turkiye on Tuesday to attend the COP31 summit and address the gathering on Wednesday. The Foreign Office said the prime minister will use the visit to press the world to take concrete action against climate change.
The prime minister will travel to Antalya from November 10 to 12. He will address the summit on November 11, when he will set out Pakistan’s case for faster climate action and fairer finance for countries that face the worst effects of a warming planet.
COP31 summit puts climate finance on the agenda
Mr Sharif will highlight Pakistan’s steps towards rapid solarisation and the expansion of its renewable energy capacity, as part of the country’s shift towards a cleaner and more resilient economy. He will also call for climate finance that is predictable, adequate and accessible for developing countries, so they can build resilience and pursue sustainable development.
The prime minister will attend a high-level roundtable convened by the COP31 presidency on the sidelines of the summit. He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Turkish leadership and several other leaders during the visit.
The Foreign Office said the prime minister’s participation in the COP31 Leaders’ Summit reflects Pakistan’s strong support for the climate agenda. It said the visit will give Pakistan a chance to reaffirm its commitment to work closely with the international community on climate action.
Summit opened with a fight over money
COP31 opened in Antalya on Monday with an early dispute over finance, as United Nations chief Antonio Guterres urged world leaders to get serious about the crisis after a year of punishing weather extremes. The opening ceremony started an hour and a half late, after negotiators spent Sunday night arguing over demands by developing nations to put climate finance on the official agenda.
The summit follows a year of severe heatwaves in Europe, major wildfires in Indonesia and catastrophic floods in Nepal, with a strong El Nino weather pattern adding to the disruption. The European Union’s climate monitor has warned that 2026 will most likely be the second-hottest year ever recorded, while scientists say 2027 could top the chart.
The United Nations warned in September that global temperatures were on course to pass 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, breaching the most ambitious threshold set by the Paris Agreement. That warning matches fresh data showing 2026 as the second-hottest year on record.
Why the visit matters for Pakistan
Pakistan counts among the countries most exposed to climate change, even though it produces only a small share of global emissions. The floods of 2022 caused damage on a scale the country is still recovering from, and Pakistani farmers are now suing German firms over the losses from those floods.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged developed countries to honour their pledge to mobilise $100 billion a year in climate finance for developing nations. It has also called for greater funding for adaptation and disaster response, so countries like Pakistan can prepare for floods and heatwaves rather than only count the losses afterwards.
The prime minister’s address will therefore carry a double message. Pakistan is moving towards solar power and clean energy at home, but it needs the promised finance to arrive on time and in full. China’s clean technology drive shows how fast that shift can move when investment follows, and Pakistan wants a share of the same momentum.
Punjab’s recent heatwaves have already shown what is at stake for farming and food security. For the farmers and families who live with that risk, the speeches in Antalya matter only if they turn into money, technology and practical help.
What happens next
Mr Sharif returns to Pakistan after the summit on November 12. Negotiators in Antalya will keep working until November 20, with finance, adaptation funding and the pace of the clean energy shift at the centre of the talks. Dawn reported the details of the prime minister’s visit.
Frequently asked questions
When does Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif travel to Turkiye?
He leaves for Antalya on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, and stays until November 12 to attend the COP31 Leaders’ Summit.
When will he address the COP31 summit?
He will address the Leaders’ Summit on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
What will he ask for at COP31?
He will urge concrete global action on climate change and call for climate finance that is predictable, adequate and accessible for developing countries.
What will he say about Pakistan’s own climate steps?
He will highlight Pakistan’s rapid solarisation and the expansion of its renewable energy capacity as part of a shift to a cleaner and more resilient economy.
Who else will he meet in Antalya?
He will attend a high-level roundtable convened by the COP31 presidency and hold bilateral meetings with the Turkish leadership and several other leaders.
