WorldPosted at: Nov 9 2026 9:06PM


COP31 begins in Türkiye with collective focus on tackling climate change

Antalya, Nov 9 (UNI) The United Nations 31st Climate Change Conference (COP31) begins in Antalya, Türkiye, on Monday, bringing together representatives from nearly 200 countries for two weeks of negotiations on tackling global warming, reducing emissions and strengthening support for vulnerable nations.
Running until November 20, the summit comes amid growing concerns over rising global temperatures, extreme weather and the ability of developing countries to cope with the effects of climate change.
The opening day will focus on food, agriculture and health, highlighting the impact of changing weather patterns and rising temperatures on food production, water resources and public well-being.
Discussions will examine ways to finance climate-resilient food systems, with organisations including the UN Development Programme and the Adaptation Fund expected to contribute. Other sessions will explore sustainable agricultural practices, water management and climate-related development challenges, drawing on findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Health will also feature prominently, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) organising discussions on climate-sensitive health technologies, digital healthcare, humanitarian assistance and strengthening health systems to withstand climate-related risks. A ministerial roundtable will bring together health ministers to discuss national priorities.
The opening programme will also include sessions on cleaner transport, the role of indigenous communities in water management and stronger international partnerships on climate technologies.
The wider summit agenda will cover emissions reductions, energy and transport, waste management, climate finance, youth and education, science and technology, oceans and biodiversity, and social development. The World Leaders' Summit on November 11 and 12 will bring heads of state and government together for high-level discussions.
A central challenge will be translating existing commitments under the Paris Agreement into measurable action, particularly on financing developing countries, expanding renewable energy and helping vulnerable communities prepare for extreme weather.
Previous climate conferences have produced commitments on reducing fossil fuel use, increasing financial support for developing nations and protecting forests. However, global emissions continue to rise, even as renewable energy capacity expands.
The International Energy Agency has forecast that renewable energy capacity growth over the next six years will be 57% higher than during the preceding period. UN climate chief Simon Stiell has also highlighted the economic benefits of expanding renewables, particularly amid global energy market instability.
"Global renewables saved around half a trillion dollars last year," Stiell said, describing the expansion of clean energy as both a climate and economic response to energy shocks.
Ankara wants this year's negotiations to focus on a new target for electrification, involving a shift away from fossil fuels towards electricity, alongside efforts to reduce waste.
However, the proposal is expected to expose divisions among participating countries over the role of natural gas in the transition.
Draft European union positions seen by the BBC indicate that the bloc would support an electrification target only if countries were not allowed to meet it through increased reliance on gas.
"It is important that progress on electrification is underpinned by clean energy sources," the EU said in a memo to member states.
Countries including Saudi Arabia and Russia have previously supported using natural gas as a transitional, cleaner alternative to coal, highlighting differences over how quickly fossil fuels should be phased out.
World Meteorological Organisation chief Celeste Saulo said the consequences of a lack of international agreement were becoming increasingly visible through more frequent and severe extreme weather events.
She said she could not explain why countries had repeatedly failed to reach consensus on certain issues, but pointed to the consequences of those disagreements.
"What I see are the impacts of what this lack of consensus generates with more extreme events," she said.
The UK government, meanwhile, is understood to be reluctant to pursue additional targets at COP31, arguing that countries should concentrate on implementing commitments already agreed rather than negotiating new ones.
With climate-related impacts becoming increasingly severe, the Antalya summit will test whether governments can bridge their differences and move from repeated pledges towards practical measures on emissions, energy transition, adaptation and climate financing.
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