Pakistan demands climate grants, warns against weaponization of water
ANTALYA (Agencies): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for grant-based climate financing and a substantial increase in climate adaptation funds for vulnerable economies, stressing that global solidarity must translate into practical action to address the growing threat of climate disasters.
Addressing the COP31 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya, Türkiye, the prime minister said developing countries, despite contributing the least to global climate change, were suffering its most devastating consequences.
He emphasized that climate-hit countries needed timely financial assistance that would not add to their existing debt burden. He called for stronger public-private partnerships, grant-based financial support and a significant increase in climate resilience and adaptation funding, describing these resources as essential for the survival of struggling economies.
The prime minister also issued a strong warning against the use of water as a weapon, stating that no country should be allowed to endanger the lives and livelihoods of populations living downstream.
He stressed that water-sharing agreements must be implemented in their true spirit, highlighting the importance of ensuring equitable access to water and protecting vulnerable communities.
Referring to Pakistan’s devastating floods in 2022, Shehbaz Sharif said one-third of the country had been submerged, affecting 33 million people and claiming more than 1,700 lives. The disaster caused economic losses exceeding $30 billion, highlighting the enormous financial burden climate-related disasters place in developing countries.
He also recalled the 2025 floods in Buner, where an entire village was swept away just two days before a young man’s wedding, turning celebrations into mourning. He said the tragedy reflected the growing climate risks facing millions of people beyond Pakistan’s borders.
Highlighting Pakistan’s domestic climate initiatives, the prime minister said the country’s distributed solar power capacity had increased by more than 20 gigawatts in just two years. Clean energy now accounts for approximately 55 percent of Pakistan’s overall energy mix, while the country is also promoting electric mobility.
Pakistan has set a target of reducing carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2035, he added.
The prime minister said national efforts alone could not substitute for a fair global response, urging developed nations to fulfil their responsibilities towards climate-vulnerable countries.
He also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, First Lady Emine Erdogan and the Turkish people for their solidarity with Pakistan during the devastating floods of 2010 and 2022.
Concluding his address, Shehbaz Sharif said the success of COP31 should not be judged by promises made at the conference but by the families protected, resources delivered and meaningful actions sustained beyond the summit.