PM Shehbaz to attend Climate Summit in Azerbaijan on Tuesday

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit Baku, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday to attend the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, part of the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), Radio Pakistan reported.

Hosted by Azerbaijan’s presidency, the two-day summit will see world leaders presenting national climate action plans and reaffirming commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The event will also feature a joint summit on methane and other non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases, co-hosted by the United States and China.

PM Shehbaz is expected to call for “climate solidarity and justice,” highlighting Pakistan's commitment to equitable solutions in the face of growing climate challenges.

According to the Ministry of Climate Change, Pakistan's delegation at COP29 will prioritise stronger global commitments to climate finance and adaptation measures. “With unprecedented climate impacts, the time for bold action is now,” the Ministry stated on X, formerly Twitter.

Pakistan, among the world’s top 10 most climate-vulnerable countries, is experiencing increasing frequency of extreme weather events, including floods, heat waves, and glacial lake outburst floods. In 2022, devastating floods displaced 33 million people and caused $30 billion in damages.

In June 2024, Pakistan faced record-breaking temperatures, straining health and agriculture. At COP29, Pakistani representatives will underscore the urgency for international climate finance to bolster resilience against such impacts.