‘Get serious’: COP31 opens in Antalya with leaders under pressure to tackle climate crisis

COP31 climate talks officially began in Antalya, Turkey, amid pressure on world leaders to take decisive action against the climate crisis. The UN's chief, Antonio Guterres, called upon leaders to "get serious" by accelerating emissions cuts and delivering necessary financial support to vulnerable nations. Following a year marked by extreme weather events, including heatwaves, wildfires, and floods, Guterres warned that humanity had entered a new age of climate extremes.

The opening ceremony of the conference was delayed by an hour and a half, with negotiations over the inclusion of climate finance in the agenda still ongoing. Developing countries argue that current financial assistance is insufficient, while richer nations argue that existing pledges are adequate. The "climate finance work programme" is expected to be included in the agenda despite initial resistance.

The summit comes at a challenging time for international climate negotiations, with geopolitical tensions and an oil price shock potentially dampening the prospects for significant breakthroughs. Despite these hurdles, Turkey is presiding over COP31, with Australia leading negotiations under a unique partnership aimed at fostering implementation of climate commitments.