Turkey: Delegates arrive in Antalya as COP31 climate talks begin
The United Nations COP31 climate summit has opened in Antalya after a year marked by deadly heatwaves and devastating floods. Delegates face fresh challenges as the war in Iran disrupts global energy supplies.
Delegates convened at the conference venue under a sea of national flags and prominent COP31 banners, as buses and vehicles filled the roads leading to the site. The summit, scheduled to run until November 20th, centers on curbing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting electrification, curbing methane emissions, and designing more resilient urban environments.
Discussions are unfolding against the backdrop of heightened instability in global energy markets, triggered by Iran's war and the consequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This has led to a surge in fuel and fertiliser costs, igniting a fresh dialogue on energy security and renewable energy investments. UN climate chief Simon Stiell cautioned that progress towards climate goals was "nowhere near far enough or fair enough", urging nations to fulfill their existing commitments.
Key topics for negotiation are expected to include climate finance for developing nations and the position of natural gas. An estimated 90,000 individuals are slated to attend the event, with heads of state convening for talks on November 11th and 12th.
Written by urgent.news from Euronews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
