COP31 opens in Antalya with divided parties
COP31 has opened in Antalya, Turkey, with Australia leading negotiations and Turkey controlling the action agenda. Parties remain divided over climate finance and the Belém-Antalya mechanism as the UN says 1.5 degrees Celsius is out of reach.
IllustrationThe story so far
Before the talks, Carbon Brief tracked positions from around 100 documents as delegates prepared for COP31 in Antalya. Climate finance and the just transition mechanism were on the agenda, with Australia set to lead negotiations and Turkey hosting. Turkey was also promoting electrification, oceans and green industrialisation. Parties remained divided over the scope of the Belém-Antalya mechanism and whether it should be tied to finance.
The UK climate minister, Katie White, said COP31 must respond to the latest global warming science, which she called really scary. She said the UK would hold up IPCC reports and prioritise electrification, methane cuts and deforestation, while defending the Jackdaw gas field as in line with carbon budgets. White also said the Hormuz crisis has driven the biggest uptake ever in UK solar, electric vehicles and heat pumps.
COP31 opened in Antalya after a hosting dispute, with Australia running the negotiations and Turkey controlling the action agenda. Delegates from nearly every country will meet from November 9 to 20. The UN said 1.5 degrees Celsius was out of reach, and the shift away from coal, oil and gas would be central. Chris Bowen was in daily charge, while Murat Kurum oversaw voluntary initiatives. The Arab group had an outsize role in ensuring fossil fuel interests were represented.
Latest updates
4 updates · newest first- 8 NovNew development
Cop31 opens in Antalya with Australia running talks and Turkey controlling agenda
Cop31 opens in Antalya after a hosting dispute, with Australia running the negotiations and Turkey controlling the action agenda. Australia's climate minister Chris Bowen will be in daily charge of the talks, while Turkey's environment minister Murat Kurum oversees voluntary initiatives. The Arab group has an outsize role in ensuring fossil fuel interests are represented.
The Guardian ↗
- 8 NovNew development
COP31 set to open in Antalya as UN says 1.5C goal is out of reach
Delegates from nearly every country will meet in Antalya, Turkey, from November 9 to 20 for COP31, with Australia leading negotiations. The UN has concluded that keeping warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is no longer possible, and the shift away from coal, oil and gas will be central. Current commitments could limit warming to up to 2.6 degrees, down from 3 to 3.5 degrees before the Paris Agreement.
DW ↗
- 3 NovOfficial statement
UK climate minister says COP31 must answer 'really scary' warming science
UK climate minister Katie White said COP31 in Antalya must respond to the latest global warming science, which she called really scary. She said the UK will hold up IPCC reports and prioritise electrification, methane cuts and deforestation, while defending the Jackdaw gas field as in line with carbon budgets. White also said the Hormuz crisis has driven the biggest uptake ever in UK solar, electric vehicles and heat pumps.
Carbon Brief ↗
- 2 NovNew development
COP31 positions tracked as parties prepare for Antalya talks
Carbon Brief has compiled positions from around 100 documents as delegates prepare for COP31 in Antalya, where climate finance and the just transition mechanism are on the agenda. Australia will lead the negotiations while Turkey hosts, and Turkey is also promoting electrification, oceans and green industrialisation. Parties remain divided over the scope of the Belém-Antalya mechanism and whether it should be tied to finance.