COP31 Opens With Leaders Under Pressure to Tackle Climate Crisis

The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP31, opened on Monday, November 9, 2026, in Antalya, Türkiye, with governments facing growing international pressure to translate climate commitments into concrete action.

The two-week conference, running until November 20, brings together representatives from nearly 200 countries, including government officials, climate scientists, environmental organisations and civil society groups, to address the escalating effects of global warming.

The opening comes after a year marked by devastating floods, extreme heatwaves, wildfires and prolonged droughts across different parts of the world. These events have intensified concerns about the ability of countries to meet international climate targets and protect vulnerable populations.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on world leaders to accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition away from fossil fuels and provide financial assistance to countries struggling with climate-related challenges.

UN climate officials have warned that global temperatures remain on course to exceed the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold established under the Paris Agreement, highlighting the gap between existing national commitments and the reductions required to limit global warming.

Climate financing is expected to be among the major issues at this year’s conference. Developing countries are demanding stronger financial commitments from wealthier nations to support climate adaptation, disaster protection and the transition towards cleaner energy sources.

Negotiations faced difficulties even before the official opening, with disagreements over whether climate finance should receive specific attention in the conference agenda.

Türkiye is presiding over COP31, while Australia is leading the negotiations under an arrangement reached between both countries. The organisers have described the conference as an implementation-focused summit, emphasising the need to move beyond declarations towards measurable results.

Among the priorities being promoted is a proposal to increase electricity’s share of global final energy consumption to 35 per cent by 2035, alongside initiatives on methane reduction, climate-resilient cities, waste management and green industrial development.

A leaders’ summit is scheduled for November 11 and 12, when heads of state and government are expected to participate in high-level discussions.

For developing nations, particularly those facing severe environmental and economic pressures, the outcome of COP31 could influence access to climate financing, renewable energy investment and support for communities increasingly exposed to extreme weather.

The conference is expected to test whether governments can reach meaningful agreements on emissions reduction, climate finance and international cooperation.