The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP31) opened on Monday, Nov 9, 2026, in the Mediterranean city of Antalya, Turkey, according to DW.com.
The summit began with an early procedural dispute over money after negotiators were locked in late talks on Sunday regarding developing nations’ demands for climate finance agenda items, reported Channelnewsasia.
Turkey is the official host of the two-week conference running from Nov 9–20, while Australia leads negotiations, noted DW.com. Turkey and Australia are co-hosting the event because neither country would withdraw its bid to stage it, according to The Irish Times. The opening ceremony started an hour and a half late without explanation, Channelnewsasia stated.
What’s at stake at the UN Climate Conference in Türkiye? As world leaders, scientists, civil society representatives, activists & others are heading to Antalya, find out what to expect from #COP31.https://t.co/idOMTIgJeq
— Post by @UN on X
Pressure on Leaders and Global Context
The summit opened following a year of devastating weather extremes, including punishing heatwaves in Europe, major wildfires in Indonesia, and catastrophic floods in Nepal, fueled in part by an exceptionally strong El Nino weather phenomenon, reported Channelnewsasia.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated in a release that the world has entered a new age of climate extremes
and urged leaders to cut emissions faster, accelerate a just transition from fossil fuels, and deliver necessary finance and protection to vulnerable countries, according to Channelnewsasia.
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.
— Post by @antonioguterres on X
The gathering takes place against a backdrop of fragmented geopolitical headwinds, including an oil price shock, the US war with Iran, Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, the Middle East conflict, and rising costs of living, noted The Straits Times and Channelnewsasia.
UN scientific reports have confirmed that global average temperature increases will soon breach the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold agreed upon in the 2015 Paris Agreement (COP21), heading toward nearly three degrees by the end of the century, according to The Irish Times and DW.com.
Developed Countries Debate Climate Finance Work Programme Inclusion
Jasper Inventor, head of Greenpeace’s COP31 delegation, described the start as difficult, according to Channelnewsasia. Developed countries took a hard line on whether to include a climate finance work platform agreed upon at COP30 in Brazil, which aims to discuss how wealthy nations should provide funds to developing nations, reported Channelnewsasia. This climate finance work programme was ultimately included in the agenda, stated Channelnewsasia.
African countries also pushed for the agenda to include the tripling of adaptation finance to help poorer nations pay for measures such as building sea walls or planting drought-resistant crops, but that point was not made a standalone agenda item, according to Channelnewsasia.
A senior European Union official warned ahead of the summit that there would be no political will for extra funding pledges at COP31, reported Channelnewsasia. French Environment Monique Barbut and her counterpart from the Philippines serve as co-facilitators of the finance negotiations under a ministerial pairing arrangement, noted The Irish Times.
Electrification Target Proposed by Turkey
Turkey has set a central electrification target for countries to agree on at the conference: increasing the share of electricity in global energy consumption from roughly 20% currently to 35% by 2035 for power, heat, and transport, reported The Straits Times, DW.com, and World leaders are coming together at #COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, to turn climate commitments into action. As the world heads towards warming above 1.5°C, every fraction of a degree matters. Here's what to expect: https://t.co/T1nTiPezGs pic.twitter.com/n9tPGRk2s9 An analysis by the International Energy Agency found that accelerating electrification could cut fuel-importing countries’ energy bills by more than $400 billion (€357 billion) by 2035 compared to 2025 levels, The Irish Times. German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider stated ahead of COP31 that Germany and the EU want to spark new momentum in the global phaseout of fossil fuels, while oil-producing states such as Saudi Arabia are not interested in deals that undermine their business model, reported DW.com. The 🌎 has more tools than ever to tackle climate change. So what's holding back progress? Clean energy solutions are advancing fast, but millions still struggle to benefit from them. With #COP31 starting tomorrow, @UN_News_Centre explores what's at stake & what needs to… pic.twitter.com/g9u2HFvwQy Delegates from nearly every country in the world will continue negotiations in Antalya through Nov 20, 2026, according to DW.com. Earlier coverage: Cop31 Host Says Summit Must Deliver Tangible Climate ProgressMore on El Nino
