The 31st UN climate conference opened in Antalya on November 9, 2026, focusing on climate finance, energy transition, and implementation of the Paris Agreement through November 20.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
The 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change officially opened in Antalya, Turkey, on November 9, 2026, and will run for 12 days through November 20.
The summit focuses on the implementation of the Convention and its Paris Agreement, with negotiations on greenhouse gas emission reduction, climate finance, climate adaptation and resilience, and just transition. Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC Secretariat, said at the opening ceremony: "Climate adaptation is moving from the margins to the mainstream. However, current progress is far from sufficient, and the results are far from fair."
This conference adopts the "dual presidency" model for the first time, with Turkey serving as the Presidency to promote global climate action issues, and Australia serving as the Negotiation Chair, leading formal negotiations.
Climate finance is expected to be among the most contentious issues. Developing countries are pushing wealthier nations to fulfill existing funding commitments, including the COP29 agreement to mobilize at least $300 billion annually in climate finance by 2035. They are also seeking to triple adaptation finance over the same period.
The future of fossil fuels is another major issue. At COP30 in Brazil in 2025, countries failed to agree on a formal roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels, despite support for the proposal from more than 80 countries.
Türkiye's COP31 presidency has outlined an Action Agenda covering 10 themes, including clean energy transition, green industrialisation, food security, climate-resilient cities, zero waste, oceans and resilient health systems. One flagship initiative, developed according to the COP31 Presidency of Türkiye in partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), is the 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge, which aims to increase electricity's share of global final energy consumption to 35% by 2035, from just over 20% currently.
The conference brings together representatives from 196 countries that are signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as the European Union. According to Türkiye’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, leaders from 102 countries and more than 300 ministers have confirmed their attendance. The leaders’ summit will take place on November 11 and 12.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that global temperatures recorded so far in 2026 are 1.47 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average, nearing the 1.5-degree limit established by the Paris Agreement. The WMO indicated that 2027 will likely be even warmer.
The United States, historically the world's largest emitter, will not send an official delegation following its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement earlier in 2026, although US lawmakers and businesses are expected to participate.
COP31 represents a test of whether governments can translate climate commitments into financing, investment and measurable implementation, with deep divisions remaining over climate finance and the pace of the energy transition.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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