Pakistan is urging other nations around the world to increase financial assistance to countries that are highly susceptible to climate change, as leaders from around the globe and governmental officials come together for the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, addressed the climate conference on Thursday and highlighted that many nations suffering from some of the worst impacts of climate change do not have the money available to appropriately deal with the issues they face.
He requested that there be more grant-funded climate finance available, stronger program designs for building resiliency, and increased funding for adapting to climate change.
Developing and developed countries have been having an ongoing dispute about which country will be responsible for financing the fight against climate change.
Pakistan highlights the consequences of climate disasters
In recent years Pakistan has been hit by a series of severe floods and other forms of extreme weather.
The disastrous floods that occurred in 2022 created extensive damage throughout the country, forced millions of people out of their homes, and resulted in over $30 billion worth of financial loss.
In his speech, Sharif discussed how human lives are affected by natural catastrophes resulting from climate change. He stated that even though certain countries contribute very little to the overall greenhouse gases produced globally, they can suffer from some of the most detrimental effects of those changes.
He stated that there had been heavy flooding in the Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during August 2025.
Pakistan has provided an excellent illustration for other developing countries of how vulnerable they are to climate change.
Demand for grant-based financing
Climate aid shouldn’t add to the debt of countries that are already struggling financially.
The vulnerable nations need money to rebuild their roads/bridges/etc., keep their people safe and get ready for the next big storm.
Because climate adaptation projects require large amounts of capital and do not typically provide an immediate return on investment, grants can be extremely helpful.
Funding of this type may help with flood protection, early warning systems, renewable energy infrastructure and climate resilient farming.
Pakistan outlines its clean energy ambitions
Pakistan has also discussed how it is making transitions from non-clean energy sources to cleaner energy within its borders.
The Prime Minister stated that clean energy made up almost half (55%) of the nation’s energy requirements. In addition, he spoke about plans regarding electric vehicles and a goal to cut back on forecasted emissions by about 50 percent prior to 2035.
These efforts are a portion of the nation’s overall goal of balancing business growth and environmental stewardship.
To achieve these goals, however, we must invest continuously in technology support and improvements in our energy infrastructure.
A wider international challenge
Nearly 200 countries will send representatives to COP31 to discuss emission reductions, climate finance and international cooperation.
The conversations occur at a time of uncertainty in the economy and tensions between countries, which creates extra problems for governments who want to keep up with their climate goals.
The primary issue for developing nations is if they can receive enough financial aid from global climate agreements to help protect people who are at risk.
These talks may affect how well nations are preparing themselves for what is expected to be an increase in severe environmental problems.
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