Pakistan successfully conducted the SCO, accelerating its efforts for regional connectivity and cooperation. Many important issues were highlighted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his speech at the summit.

The prime minister called for collective action for socioeconomic development, strong connectivity, collective peace and security, combating terrorism, dealing with climate change, alleviating poverty, and respecting principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right to self-determination. Among all these issues, one common and alarming threat that requires collective action from SCO members is climate change.

As Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in his speech, “The impact of climate change is being felt worldwide, and Pakistan has been particularly hard-hit”. SCO member-states make up 40 per cent of the world population and are witnessing devastating impacts of climate change in one form or another.

Russia is facing heatwaves, floods, droughts forest fires, and permafrost caused by climate change. According to the Centre for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), “Russia is warming 2.5 times faster than the rest of the world”. China also witnessed summer floods in Zhengzhou in 2024. Similarly in 2022, the........

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