COP31 to open in Turkey, with climate goals under pressure from war and AI
- 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.
361 Articles
361 Articles
UN climate summit kicks off in Turkiye after a disastrous year of extreme weather
World leaders, delegates and climate activists on Monday kicked off talks in Turkiye on curbing climate change, which in the last year has led to rising temperatures and deadly heat waves in Europe and beyond, and played a role in disasters such as the devastating floods in Nepal.
The COP31 is taking place under an unprecedented formula: Turkey holds the formal presidency, while Australia leads the negotiations, which require the consensus of the countries
The agenda was adopted after an hour and a half delay, but it left out a specific point to triple resources for adaptation.
The United Nations climate summit brings together nearly 200 countries in Türkiye until 20 November, with the challenge of closing funding gaps.
The President of the Republic does not go to the COP in Turkey this year, and his image as a climate champion has deteriorated over time.
The United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP31) begins this Monday in Turkey with the challenge of accelerating the fulfilment of the commitments made by countries in the face of global warming. Financing, the progressive elimination of fossil fuels and adaptation appear among the issues that will dominate the agenda. Brazil [...]
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