COP31 to open in Turkey, with climate goals under pressure from war and AI
Delegates from nearly 200 countries are negotiating how to speed up electrification and increase climate finance for developing nations.
- On Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, Turkey's COP31 presidency, led by COP31 President Murat Kurum, opened the U.N. climate summit in Antalya, launching a non-binding '35-by-35' electrification pledge to raise electricity's share of global energy to 35% by 2035.
- Mounting urgency defines this year's talks as 2026 is virtually certain to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, following catastrophic floods in Nepal that killed about 1,500 people and a deadly European heatwave that caused over 50,000 deaths.
- Branding this an 'implementation COP,' Turkey and Australia prioritize delivering existing commitments over setting new targets. However, the U.S. remains absent from negotiations under President Donald Trump, who withdrew from climate talks.
- Developing nations are pressing wealthy countries for faster access to climate finance to support adaptation efforts. A senior European Union official warned last week there would be "no political will" for extra funding pledges at COP31.
- Rising global power demand from artificial intelligence is driving a surge in global energy consumption, pushing governments to rethink energy policies and invest more in wind and solar. This challenge now features prominently on the COP31 agenda.
467 Articles
467 Articles
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Antalya, Türkiye The UN COP 31 climate summit opened Monday with delusion and dysfunction as the CFACT delegation and thousands of others stood in line for nearly four hours to enter the facility housing the event. It hearkened back to camping out waiting in line for concert tickets in the pre-internet age last century. This year’s opening
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COP31: Africa’s 18m workers sound alarm, demand climate justice, green jobs, billions in funding
By Victor Ahiuma-Young Africa’s 18 million organised workers have sounded a strong warning ahead of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), demanding climate justice, decent jobs, affordable energy and billions of dollars in climate financing to ensure that the continent does not bear the burden of the global energy transition. The Africa Regional […]
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