United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday urged developed nations to deliver on their promises of climate finance and technology to build resilience in vulnerable countries, as the world prepares for the COP31 climate summit in Türkiye next month.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, Guterres said wealthy countries must match their rhetoric with resources. “Leadership from vulnerable developing countries cannot substitute for responsibility from developed countries,” he said.
The UN chief is on an official visit to Pakistan from October 6 to 8, during which he is also meeting President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and visiting the National Disaster Management Authority.
COP31 climate finance: G20 must lead emissions cuts
Guterres said the G20 represents 80 percent of global emissions and emphasized the need for “a drastic reduction in those emissions this decade.” While invoking the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, he insisted that “all countries must do their part.”
He specifically urged developed countries to honour the commitments made at COP29 in Baku, where they agreed to mobilise at least $300 billion annually for developing countries by 2035 to support climate action. With COP31 climate finance set to dominate the Antalya talks, the question of whether those pledges turn into real money will be one of the summit’s defining tests.
Pakistan on the frontlines of climate chaos
Guterres recalled his last visit to Pakistan in 2022, when he travelled to the country following its devastating floods. “Pakistan is on the frontlines of climate chaos despite contributing only a tiny fraction of global emissions. It is also on the frontlines of the response,” he said.
He noted that although the country contributes only a small share of global emissions, it remains highly vulnerable to climate shocks, and called on major emitters to cut emissions while urging developed countries to provide finance, technology and support to vulnerable nations.
Key facts
- Who: UN Secretary-General António Guterres, with Pakistan’s Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
- When and where: Joint press conference in Islamabad, Tuesday October 6, 2026, during Guterres’ official visit from October 6 to 8
- Core demand: Developed nations must deliver finance and technology for climate resilience ahead of COP31
- The numbers: G20 responsible for 80% of global emissions; COP29 Baku deal commits developed countries to at least $300 billion a year in climate finance for developing countries by 2035
- Next milestone: COP31 takes place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026
What to watch at COP31 in Antalya
The Antalya summit arrives as Pacific island nations, meeting this week at the pre-COP in Fiji and Tuvalu, demand grant-based, demand-driven finance and stronger accountability on disbursement. Read more about the Pacific pre-COP31 push for ocean and 1.5°C priorities.
Whether the $300 billion Baku promise starts turning into funded projects before Antalya will shape the mood in the negotiating halls. For more of our coverage, see Watan News climate coverage.
Bottom line: A month before COP31, the world’s top diplomat is telling rich countries the same thing vulnerable nations have said for years — the money must flow, not just the promises.
