MM News

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif left for Egypt to participate in the “Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit” being held on November 7-8.

The prime minister is accompanied by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, cabinet members and other senior officials.

This summit is taking place as part of the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP-27).

Shortly before leaving for Egypt, PM Shehbaz Sharif tweeted that as Chair of G-77, he would urge the world to deliver on its commitment on climate finance and loss and damage fund. Without financial support, the developing countries will continue to remain exposed to the multifarious threats of climate change. “We are asking for climate justice,” he said.

#COP27 being held in Egypt can be a watershed in humanity's fight against climate change & global warming. Extreme climatic events in Pakistan & Horn of Africa this year have showcased globalisation of climate change. Turning a blind eye to its lethal effects will be criminal.1/3

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 6, 2022

At the invitation of the Egyptian Presidency of COP-27, the prime minister would also co-chair, along with his Norwegian counterpart, a high-level roundtable discussion on “Climate Change and the sustainability of vulnerable communities” on 8th November, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

Also read: Sherry Rehman among 9 people named for shaping the world climate agenda: Report

The prime minister will also participate in other high-level events as a speaker, including the UN Secretary General’s roundtable to launch the ‘Early Warning Systems for Executive Action Plan’, and the ‘Middle East Green Initiative Summit’ on November 7, being hosted by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman.

The prime minister is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders on the margins of the summit.

COP-27 is taking place at a time when millions of people in Pakistan, and millions more in other parts of the world, are facing severe adverse impacts of climate change, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a related press release.

As a developing country most affected by this phenomenon, Pakistan would make a robust call, inter alia, for urgency of climate solidarity and climate justice, based on the established principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

“In its capacity as the incumbent Chair of the Group of 77 & China, which is the largest negotiating bloc of developing countries within the UN system, Pakistan would also lead the Group in the climate change negotiations; including in thematic areas such as climate finance, adaptation, mitigation, and capacity building,” it was added.

The COP is the supreme decision-making body under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which meets on annual basis to review and advance collective efforts to address climate change.

As a main stakeholder, Pakistan would continue to, proactively, make positive contributions to the global climate change debate, negotiations and collective action, the spokesperson added.