PM Shehbaz attends opening session of COP29 with world leaders

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined world leaders at the opening plenary of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The summit's inaugural session, titled "World Leaders’ Climate Action Summit", marked the start of critical discussions on global climate change actions.

Upon his arrival at the summit, the prime minister was warmly welcomed by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev. The leaders posed for a family photo before the formal opening of the summit.

During COP29, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to play a prominent role. He will address the Climate Action Summit and participate in several high-level events on the summit's sidelines.

In addition to global discussions, the prime minister will also hold bilateral meetings with various world leaders.

Shehbaz Sharif will also attend the high-level "Glaciers 2025: Actions for Glaciers" event organised by the President of Tajikistan, focusing on glacier preservation.

In addition, PM Sharif is scheduled to meet with the Prime Ministers of Denmark and the Czech Republic to discuss enhancing bilateral relations and address climate-related challenges faced by Pakistan.

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.