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November 15, 2024

 

PM Shehbaz Attends COP29 in Baku to Highlight Climate Change Threats to Pakistan

Baku: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended COP29, the United Nations' 29th climate conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday to spotlight the threats posed by the global environmental phenomena to Pakistan.

The premier addressed the COP29 on November 13 and attended several key events on the sidelines of the summit besides holding bilateral meetings with world leaders. He also hosted the Climate Finance Roundtable Conference, which will be attended by multiple global leaders.

In his addresses to the various forums at the event, PM Shehbaz primarily focused on the challenges faced by developing countries, particularly Pakistan, which contribute the least to the emission of harmful and polluting gases yet are severely affected by the adverse impacts of climate change.

Additionally, he participated in a high-level event "Glaciers 2025: Actions for Glaciers" organized by Tajik President for the protection of glaciers.

Shehbaz also held separate meetings with the Prime Ministers of Denmark and the Czech Republic, who were also attending COP-29, according to Radio Pakistan.

In these meetings, discussions focused on the promotion of bilateral relations.

It is important to note that Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries suffering the consequences of climate change every day. As a result, this year's COP discussions are crucial.

More than 75 leaders were expected in Baku over two days but the heads of some of the most powerful and polluting economies were not attending this year's summit.

Just a handful of leaders from the G20 — which accounts for nearly 80% of planet-heating greenhouse gas emissions — were expected in Baku, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

"This government believes that climate security is national security," his Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said on Monday.

Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, and Emmanuel Macron were among the G20 leaders missing at the event, where uncertainty over future US support for climate action hung over the opening day.

Washington's top climate envoy sought to reassure countries in Baku that Trump's re-election would not end US efforts on global warming, even if it would be "on the back burner".

UN climate chief Simon Stiell also appealed to solidarity, kicking talks off on Monday by urging countries to "show that global cooperation is not down for the count".

But the opening day got off to a rocky start, with feuds over the official agenda delaying by hours the start of formal proceedings in the stadium venue near the Caspian Sea.

Later in the evening, governments approved the new UN standards for a global carbon market in a key step toward allowing countries to trade credits to meet their climate targets.

COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev hailed a "breakthrough" after years of complex discussions, but felt more work is needed before a long-sought UN-backed market can be fully realized. - The News

Courtesy The News

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