On Saturday, crowds marched through the Turkish host city of COP31 to accuse the climate gathering of abandoning individuals experiencing the worst effects of ecological damage.
This expression of discontent arrives as delegates enter the pivotal final week of international climate discussions in Antalya, with nearly 200 nations racing to reach an agreement by Friday. The conference is unlikely to yield any major breakthroughs, which has left activists disappointed as they push for stricter limitations on heat-trapping fossil fuels alongside new commitments to assist developing nations in coping with weather extremes.
Amid rainy weather in central Antalya, thousands of participants wearing costumes and chanting slogans proceeded under strict police watch during the largest protest since the opening of COP31 on Monday.
“We are suffering the consequences of climate injustice, yet our voices are never heard at the COP,” Halime Saman told The New Arab.
Saman spoke from the People’s Climate Summit platform, one of the groups behind the rally. “Turkey is the co-chair of COP31 but still has no roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels. New power stations and coal mines are being opened,” she added.
Yasar Gokoglu, a 78-year-old demonstrator, travelled nearly 600 kilometres from Adana in southern Turkey to denounce what he called “a masquerade sponsored by monopolies”.
Police estimated that more than 7,000 people attended the protest. The gathering was organised by environmental groups, trade unions and rights organisations, and proceeded without any major incident.
Prior to COP31, human rights defenders had expressed apprehension regarding safety following the Turkish government’s intensive crackdown on the LGBT community within the predominantly Muslim nation during September. Some LGBT protesters waving rainbow flags participated in the march, and demonstrators were only allowed to join the rally after being searched by police.
Political leaders face increasing pressure to accelerate their response to environmental breakdown due to a series of smaller gatherings held inside the COP31 conference grounds this week, which featured participation from Swedish campaign figure Greta Thunberg.
Even though Saturday marked the midpoint of the talks, participating governments remain deeply divided over contentious topics such as funding adaptation efforts in the global south, upholding climate science, and transitioning away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy.
Australia’s climate minister, Chris Bowen, who is chairing the formal negotiations, said there had been “really good and positive conversations” but some issues required more time.
Parallel to the formal talks, Turkish authorities are encouraging governments to sign an optional commitment aimed at increasing electricity’s proportion of total worldwide final energy consumption.
The summit, which closes on November 20, takes place against a difficult backdrop, with a conflict-driven energy crisis and geopolitical tensions tempering expectations.
| Summit Detail | Metric / Status |
|---|---|
| Host City & Co-Chair | Antalya, Turkey |
| Participating Nations | Nearly 200 |
| Protest Turnout (Police Estimate) | More than 7,000 people |
| Summit Closing Date | November 20, 2026 |
“There’s no climate quick fix. No single COP can magic this crisis away, but each must drive progress,” UN climate chief Simon Stiell told reporters on Saturday.
