The 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) was launched on November 9 in the Turkish seaside city of Antalya.
This year’s edition is the first to utilize a dual presidency model. Turkey holds the role of the presiding country and promotes the global climate agenda, while Australia leads the formal negotiations.
Turkey has set the conference’s main theme as “A COP focused on implementation”. Among its ten priority areas are electrification and zero waste, for example.
Representatives from more than 190 countries will negotiate
During the twelve-day conference, government representatives from more than 190 countries, along with international organizations, businesses, scientific institutions and civil society organizations, will discuss energy, agriculture, health, financing and technologies.
The year 2026 also marks the beginning of a new decade under the Paris Agreement. The main goal of this year’s negotiations is therefore to translate previously adopted climate commitments into concrete and measurable results.
The negotiations will focus particularly on emission reduction targets, climate finance, climate adaptation and increasing resilience to its impacts.
Emphasis will also be placed on improving developing countries’ access to climate finance and on strengthening the capacity of vulnerable states to cope with climate disasters.
The second Global Stocktake begins
COP31 will also include the launch of the second Global Stocktake, which is intended to assess collective progress in implementing the Paris Agreement.
China is expected to participate in all items on the official agenda and will also open a China Pavilion at the conference venue.
Within this framework, more than 40 thematic meetings and side events will take place, focusing on topics such as ecological civilization, markets and financing, South-South cooperation and new energy sources.
The Chinese side aims to present its policy measures and practical results in the fight against climate change through these events.
CMG
