World leaders to address COP31 as Turkiye pushes for new climate deal
ANTALYA: World leaders will set out their climate priorities in speeches at COP31 in Turkiye on Wednesday, as negotiators seek agreement on a plan to increase the share of electricity in global energy use and revive stalled efforts to move away from fossil fuels. Delegates from nearly 200 countries are meeting in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya as global greenhouse gas emissions show…
World leaders are set to address climate priorities at COP31 in Turkey on Wednesday, as negotiators push for a new deal to boost electricity in global energy use and revive efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Delegates from nearly 200 nations are gathering in Antalya, despite emissions showing little sign of decline and various crises dominating political attention.
A recent UN report indicates the world is on track to surpass the 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature threshold set by the Paris Agreement. Former French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, leading a council of former COP presidents, believes the speeches could spur political action, emphasizing the importance of implementation. World leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, will deliver speeches on Wednesday and Thursday.
The US, the world's largest historical emitter, has boycotted the talks for the second consecutive year. Turkey, the COP31 host, is urging governments to prioritize electrification, aiming for electricity to account for 35% of global energy consumption by 2035. However, the proposal lacks requirements for clean energy sources and a broader plan to transition away from fossil fuels.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for clear timelines for the transition away from fossil fuels, criticizing the lack of progress at the previous COP in Brazil.
Written by urgent.news from Business Recorder's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
