As the UN climate summit COP31 enters its second day in Antalya, Turkey, delegates are confronting a stark admission: global temperatures are officially on track to rise more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
The conference opened with a central push to have 35 percent of the world powered by electricity by 2035, according to ABC News. Australia and Turkey are joint presidents of this year’s meeting, which brings together international leaders to grapple with rapid warming and global fuel shocks.
#COP31 kicks off today in Antalya, Türkiye. With the world entering a period of temperature overshoot, every fraction of a degree matters. Climate science must guide action to reduce near-term warming and protect people. See UNEP's week one events: https://t.co/b4KPoXJ7Fp pic.twitter.com/d9XsG3tQ5K
Australian Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen told the opening session that the summit is meeting at a moment of consequence,
noting that prior to the Paris Agreement, the world was heading for warming approaching four degrees. Today, projections are closer to 2.6 degrees, ABC News reported.
Simultaneously, UN climate change executive secretary Simon Stiell addressed the conference, stating that this year’s fossil fuel cost chaos has delivered a global shock wave, hitting households hard and spreading inflation like a cancer.
The climate crisis is a double injustice. Between countries: those who have contributed the least to it are the hardest hit. Between generations: what we emit today will be paid for by our grandchildren. I’m heading to #COP31 with an urgent call for more #ClimateAction.
Turkey’s climate minister and COP host Murat Kurum emphasized the need for outcome-driven dialogue, remarking that the summit should let dialogue grow as divisions deepen, restore trust where it is under strain,
according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Turkey has set a domestic target of 35 percent of energy demand being met by electricity by 2035, up from roughly 20 percent today, as noted by The Conversation.
Despite the push for electrification, critics note that the agenda lacks binding commitments to phase out fossil fuels. Climate Council member Nicki Hutley pointed out that what’s missing is a clear commitment to move the world away from coal, oil and gas,
as cited by ABC News. Australia’s own export emissions have come under intense scrutiny from Pacific nations due to expanding coal mining and gas projects.
Providing a brief respite in emissions data, an analysis by Lauri Myllyvirta for Carbon Brief revealed that China’s carbon emissions dropped by 3.1 per cent in the third quarter of 2026. The Sydney Morning Herald reported this marks the fastest fall in China’s emissions since COVID-19, driven by high fuel prices and a rapid uptake of renewables.
| Metric / Target | Projected or Reported Value | Source Context |
|---|---|---|
| Global Temperature Trajectory | Projections closer to 2.6 degrees (down from 4 degrees) | ABC News |
| Global Electrification Pledge | 35 percent of world powered by electricity by 2035 | ABC News |
| China Emissions Change (Q3 2026) | Fell by 3.1 per cent due to high fuel prices | The Sydney Morning Herald |
As formal negotiations continue through the week in Antalya, leaders from approximately 80 to 90 countries are expected to participate. The United States is absent with an official Trump administration delegation, though subnational groups like the U.S. Climate Alliance continue their attendance, as reported by ABC News.
What is the UN climate conference and why does it matter? As world leaders, scientists, civil society representatives, activists & others are heading to Türkiye to accelerate #ClimateAction & strengthen cooperation, find out more about #COP31: https://t.co/CRseBPkJpO pic.twitter.com/CMnQZAMmbl
Earlier coverage: COP31 in Türkiye: A Litmus Test for Global Climate Transition
