COP31 opens under climate and finance pressure
Thousands of participants descended on a sprawling expo centre in the Turkish Mediterranean city of Antalya for the UN's annual two-week climate conference.
The annual UN climate conference, COP31, commenced on Monday with a heated debate over financial matters at the sprawling expo center in Antalya, Turkey. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged world leaders to take climate action seriously, following a year marked by severe weather events and an intense El Nino phenomenon.
While few major breakthroughs are anticipated, the summit will focus on accelerating the transition from fossil fuels, delivering crucial climate finance, and providing protection to vulnerable nations. Developing countries, responsible for most emissions, have historically received financial support from developed nations to adapt to climate impacts and transition to cleaner energy.
However, disagreements persist over the extent of financial assistance required, with experts estimating a need of US$305 billion annually by 2035. Despite these challenges, Turkey is presiding over COP31 alongside Australia, aiming to focus on implementing commitments made in previous conferences.
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