Kurum to lead COP31 in Antalya as 1.5-degree climate target is abandoned
Delegates from nearly 200 countries gather in Turkey to implement previous climate commitments, even as global temperatures are projected to exceed preindustrial levels by 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
By Charlotte Dubois ·
The global climate conversation has shifted from setting new targets to enforcing existing agreements, a change driven by the likelihood that the planet will exceed its primary warming threshold. The Conference of the Parties, known as COP31, opened on Monday in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya, Turkey.
Approximately 68,500 attendees are participating in the two-week event, with nearly 25,000 staff members supporting the proceedings. The summit runs from November 9 through November 20, bringing together delegates from nearly 200 countries. The gathering follows a year of extreme weather, including deadly heat waves across Europe and severe flooding in Nepal.
Turkish Environment Minister Murat Kurum, who serves as the summit president, stated that the conference will focus on turning previous commitments into action rather than establishing new goals. Kurum announced an Action Agenda that includes reducing methane emissions and building climate-resilient cities. The plan also aims to increase the share of electricity from renewable sources, such as wind and solar, from 21 percent to 35 percent by 2035.
"This is the first COP where it is clear beyond a reasonable doubt that the world will overshoot the 1.5-degree target," Kurum said. "We will not look away, and we will not lower our ambition." Climate scientists indicate that global warming is likely to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels from the early 1800s.
U.N. climate chief Simon Stiell emphasized the need for practical solutions at the opening session. He described measures such as reducing methane emissions as "planetary icepacks" that can help slow global heating. Methane has a shorter atmospheric lifespan than other greenhouse gases but warms the planet at a faster rate. Stiell added that using renewable-powered electricity in place of oil, gas, and coal is another method to reduce warming.
Negotiators are currently addressing disagreements over financial support for developing nations. These countries seek clarity on how wealthy nations will fund adaptation to rising temperatures and recovery from climate disasters. Meena Raman of the Third World Network noted that countries with the smallest contributions to the crisis should not be forced to borrow to manage the costs. Iskander Erzini Vernoit, an advisor to African negotiators, said that agenda proposals from the 54-country African Group were supported by many developing nations but contested by representatives from the European Union and Canada.
The United States, the second-largest polluter globally after China, is absent from the summit. President Donald Trump withdrew the nation from climate negotiations upon taking office for a second term in January 2025. The current event is a joint effort between Turkey and Australia, a compromise reached after both nations competed for the hosting rights. Turkey is the official host, while Australia leads the negotiations, despite both countries relying heavily on coal.
The war in Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, raising global prices for gasoline, oil, fertilizers, and pesticides. This disruption has prompted governments to rethink energy policies and increase investment in renewable sources. Previous summits, including COP30 in Brazil and COP29 in Azerbaijan, faced criticism for ending with limited agreement on emission reductions, with final texts that did not mention fuels.
