Islamabad, Oct 16, 2024: The much-anticipated multilateral summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Islamabad, Pakistan, is making headlines for the right reasons. Over the years, the summit has evolved into a critical forum for addressing multifaceted global challenges, with environmental sustainability emerging as a core pillar of its agenda.
Pakistan has rotating chairmanship of the SCO council and this is first time in about 3 decades that Pakistan is hosting such a large multilateral event.
Underlining the need for developing nations in the region to collaborate on the issue of climate, the Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif said, “As one of the most climate vulnerable countries, Pakistan testifies to the need for prioritizing environmental cooperation among Member-States, to enhance resilience, foster collaboration and secure a safer future for our present and future generations.”
“The unpredictable climate changes are the greatest threat to humanity’s existence. Its devastation is colossal and transcends all borders," he further added 
Representing the Indian side, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who is the first leader to visit Pakistan in last nine years, mentioned steps taken by India in the recent years to counter Climate challenge.
“From an Indian perspective, our own global initiatives and national endeavours are also strongly relevant for the SCO. The International Solar Alliance promotes renewable energy. The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure prepares us for climate events. Mission LiFE advocates a sustainable life-style. Practicing Yoga and promoting millets make a difference to wellness and to environment," he said
“The Global Biofuel Alliance recognises the task of energy transition. The International Big Cat Alliance protects our bio-diversity. At home, we have demonstrated the value of digital public infrastructure, just as we have shown the impact of women-led development,” he added.
The Islamabad summit comes at a time when the need for regional cooperation as a powerful tool in combating climate change is more urgent than ever. Addressing the SCO member nations, the EAM emphasized India’s commitment to global environmental initiatives, highlighting how individual lifestyle changes can contribute to broader environmental sustainability.
The SCO’s environment agenda is increasingly focused on shared solutions, including innovative technologies in renewable energy, cross-border conservation efforts and balancing green policies with economic growth. By fostering regional cooperation on these urgent issues, the SCO is positioning itself as a key player in shaping a sustainable future not just for its members, but for the global community.
The SCO's environmental protection efforts include:
- Developing green technologies: The SCO is working to develop and introduce technologies that are energy-efficient, resource-saving, and low-emission.
- Protecting marine life: The SCO is exploring ways to address the impact of climate change on marine life and vegetation.
- Promoting investment standards: The SCO is exchanging experiences in the field of investment standards and sustainable projects, including green taxonomies.
- Mobilizing funding: The SCO is studying ways to mobilize funding to prevent and adapt to climate change.
- Carbon trading: The SCO is launching a dialogue on carbon trading between member states.
- Capacity building: The SCO is promoting capacity building and creating training systems for climate specialists.
- Seminars and forums: The SCO is holding seminars, forums, and roundtable discussions to exchange experiences on climate change.
In this context, it is important to remember that the SCO represents 40% of the world’s population, and member countries contribute approximately over $23 trillion to global GDP.
2025, the Year of Sustainable Development at SCO
Earlier in July 2024, leaders of the Member States of the SCO, following a meeting of the Council of Heads of Member State in Astana on July 4, 2024, had declared 2025 the Year of Sustainable Development in the SCO.
Member States had noted the importance of strengthening cooperation in the field of environmental protection, ensuring environmental safety, rational use of natural resources, mitigating the negative effects of climate change and adapting to it, including through technology transfer and resource mobilization to meet the needs of developing countries. In this regard, they welcomed the signing of the Agreement between the governments of the SCO Member States on cooperation in the field of environmental protection, as well as the continuation of work within the framework of the agreements recorded in the Statement of the Council of Heads of SCO Member State on Response to Climate Change (Samarkand, September 16 2022).
They had welcomed the adoption of the developed Joint approaches to solving environmental problems, the Program for the development of cooperation among the SCO Member States in the field of protected areas (specially protected natural areas, protected natural areas) and eco-tourism, the Joint Action Plan for the implementation of the SCO Green Belt Program for 2024 -2026 and decided to create a Special Working Group of SCO Member States on climate change issues.
Member States, noting the negative impact of sand and dust storms on sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental aspects, emphasized the need to develop joint action plans at the regional and subregional levels.
Member States welcomed the outcome of the 3rd International High-Level Conference on the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development” 2018-2028 (Dushanbe, 10-13 June 2024).
Expressing concern about the negative impact on human health of all types of waste, they emphasized the importance of taking practical measures to combat environmental pollution, adopted the Statement on Effective Waste Management.
Member States emphasize the importance of strengthening the activities of the SCO Youth Council and promoting youth exchanges. They noted the initiative of the Republic of Uzbekistan to develop a program of activities to expand youth exchange - "SCO - a space of creative ideas and initiatives of the future.”
Strengthening of cooperation in the field of preventing and responding to emergency situations and eliminating their consequences was also discussed. They positively assessed the cooperation of the SCO countries in the field of providing assistance in emergency situations and are ready to strengthen mutual learning and exchange of experience, including in the field of industrial safety.
Member States also highlighted the importance of access to clean drinking water for public health. In this regard, they adopted the Statement on Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation.
They noted the need to further strengthen cooperation in the field of physical education and sports. In this regard, they noted the holding of the Kunming (Kunming, December 31, 2023) and Issyk-Kul SCO Marathons (Cholpon-Ata, May 4, 2024), and expressed support for holding such events that help strengthen friendship and mutual understanding.
Expanding Regional Ties
The regional bloc of SCO has expanded in recent years and now boasts of nine members - India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as full members. Three countries — Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia — have an observer status with the SCO, and fourteen countries — Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Cambodia, Egypt, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Türkiye and UAE — have a dialogue partner status.
