COP31 climate summit commences in Antalya

The COP31 climate summit officially began on November 9, 2026, in Antalya, Turkey, bringing together delegates from nearly 200 nations for two weeks of negotiations aimed at addressing the global climate crisis. The summit, scheduled to conclude on November 20, occurs amid significant geopolitical and economic challenges, including the ongoing war in Iran, rising AI-driven power consumption, and the absence of the United States from active climate cooperation. These factors have pressured global energy security, causing a surge in oil and gas prices following the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz.

Turkey’s COP31 presidency has introduced a key goal to electrify over one-third of the global economy by 2035, an increase from the current level of approximately one-fifth. This proposal seeks to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels in vehicles, heating, and industry. The urgency for such measures is highlighted by a recent UN Environment Programme report indicating that the world is on track to exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold established in the 2015 Paris Agreement. UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell addressed the assembly, stating that current efforts remain insufficient given the record-breaking heatwaves and extreme disasters witnessed globally this year.