Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has pledged to raise Pakistan’s renewable energy share, including hydropower, to 62% of the national energy mix by 2035. Speaking at the Climate Summit 2025 in New York, held alongside the UN General Assembly, he called it a vital step toward building resilience in one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
The premier also announced plans to expand nuclear power generation to 1,200 megawatts by 2030, while committing to shift 30% of public transport to environment-friendly sources. The move echoes Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s ongoing push to introduce electric buses, a step aimed at reducing emissions in the country’s largest province.
Shehbaz stressed that Pakistan has already paid a heavy price for climate change, from devastating floods to rising heatwaves, and said the government would prioritize climate-smart agriculture to protect rural communities and ensure food security.
His commitments contrasted sharply with US President Donald Trump’s remarks dismissing climate change as a “con job.” At the same forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined new goals to cut emissions by up to 10% by 2035 and boost non-fossil fuel use to over 30%. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all nations to adopt more ambitious 2035 climate plans, warning that existing pledges are far from enough to prevent catastrophic warming.
