Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday urged grant-based financing for countries affected by climate change, while also warning against "weaponising water." "National effort cannot replace a fair and just global response when climate disaster strikes. Vulnerable countries need timely help and finance that does not deepen their debt. We call for grant-based finance, including public-private partnerships, alongside significant enhancement of resilience and adaptation funds, which amount to survival funds, especially for struggling economies," said PM Shehbaz at the COP31 summit in the Turkish city of Antalya. He said that water "must never be weaponised" and that no nation should be allowed to put the lives and livelihoods of people downstream at risk. "Water sharing agreements must be honoured," he said. The prime minister said national efforts to combat climate change could not replace a fair and just global response. “When climate disasters strike, vulnerable countries need timely help and finance that does not deepen their debt,” he said. PM Shehbaz called for grant-based financing, including public-private partnerships, alongside a significant increase in resilience and adaptation funds, which he described as essential for the survival of struggling economies. The prime minister recalled the devastating floods in Pakistan, highlighting the human and economic consequences of climate-related disasters. He recounted the story of a young man in Buner who was just two days away from his wedding when flash floods struck his village in August 2025. “A home preparing for celebration became a house of mourning,” he said. PM Shehbaz said he had visited families who had lost their homes, livelihoods and loved ones in the floods. He said their suffering reflected the experiences of millions of people in Pakistan and across the developing world who had contributed the least to climate change but were facing its most severe consequences. Referring to the devastating floods of 2022, the prime minister said one-third of Pakistan had been submerged, affecting 33 million people. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlights the devastating impact of climate change, with 33 million people affected by floods. Despite contributing the least to global emissions, vulnerable communities bear the heaviest burden. Prime Minister stresses that water must not be… pic.twitter.com/e2H3EVF6sd — Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) November 12, 2026 He said standing crops had been washed away, millions of acres of land had been inundated, more than 1,700 people had lost their lives, and economic losses had exceeded $30 billion. Recalling his earlier warning at the United Nations, PM Shehbaz said, “Four years ago, at the United Nations, I warned that what happens in Pakistan will not stay in Pakistan.” “Unfortunately, that warning has become a stark reality. The future we feared has become the present we are living in,” he added. The prime minister stressed that climate change knew no borders and that no nation could confront the challenge alone. He said international solidarity needed to translate into practical action. PM Shehbaz thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, First Lady Emine Erdogan and the people of Turkiye for their support during Pakistan's devastating floods in 2010 and 2022. He said their solidarity and friendship would always be remembered. The prime minister also thanked President Erdogan and the Turkish people for their hospitality and arrangements for COP31, while commending Australia's role as President of Negotiations. Read: PM pushes for enhanced climate financing Highlighting Pakistan's efforts towards clean energy, PM Shehbaz said he had witnessed the dome placement of the Chashma-5 nuclear power plant while travelling to Antalya. He said the plant would add 1,200 megawatts of clean, emission-free electricity once commissioned. The prime minister said Pakistan was leading by example in the transition towards clean energy. “In just two years, our people have added more than 20 gigawatts of distributed solar capacity,” he said. He added that clean energy sources now accounted for nearly 55% of Pakistan's energy mix. PM Shehbaz said the country was advancing electric mobility and had set a target to reduce projected emissions by approximately 50% by 2035. However, he reiterated that national efforts alone could not substitute for an equitable international response to climate change. The prime minister also stressed the importance of protecting shared water resources. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlights the devastating impact of climate change. The prime minister stresses that water must not be weaponised and calls for collective global action, saying no country can tackle climate change alone.@CMShehbaz #COP31 #ShehbazSharif… pic.twitter.com/L6kvDHNvv0 — Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) November 12, 2026 Concluding his address, PM Shehbaz urged world leaders to measure the success of COP31 through concrete outcomes rather than commitments alone. “At COP31, let our success be measured not by promises we make here, but by the families we protect, the resources we deliver, and the meaningful action we sustain,” he said.