Thousands rally in Antalya to demand climate justice as COP31 talks hit midpoint

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Antalya on Saturday, demanding climate justice amidst the midpoint of COP31 talks. The climate summit, chaired by Turkey, faced criticism for its perceived failure to address the needs of those most affected by environmental destruction. As negotiators prepared for the final week of negotiations, nearly 200 nations struggled to reach a deal by Friday.

The summit was expected to produce little to no major breakthroughs, which disappointed activists who were pushing for stricter limits on fossil fuels and additional funding for poorer countries to adapt to climate change. Despite the rainy weather in downtown Antalya, thousands of protesters marched under police supervision, holding bird effigies and chanting slogans.

Halime Saman, representing the People’s Climate Summit platform, expressed the protesters' frustration, stating that they were suffering from climate injustice yet their voices were never heard at the COP. Turkish demonstrators traveled from far away to denounce the lack of a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, with new power stations and coal mines being opened.

Police estimated over 7,000 people attended the protest, which proceeded without major incidents. Civil society activists had previously raised safety concerns due to Turkey's crackdown on the LGBT community in September, and some LGBT protesters participated in the march after being searched by police. While smaller demonstrations inside the COP31 venue continued to pressure political leaders for action, negotiators were still far apart on key issues such as financing adaptation measures and transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy.

Australian Climate Minister Chris Bowen, chairing the negotiations, acknowledged some positive conversations but emphasized the need for more time to address contentious issues. Turkey urged countries to join a voluntary pledge to increase global electricity demand met by renewable energy. The summit, concluding on November 20, took place amidst a challenging backdrop, including an energy crisis caused by conflict and geopolitical tensions.

UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell urged negotiators to understand that no single COP could solve the crisis, but each had to contribute to progress. At the Pakistan Pavilion, Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Barrister Danyal Chaudhry called for climate-proofing fiscal policies, safeguarding the transition to renewable energy, treating adaptation as an investment, reforming global debt architecture, and strengthening parliamentary oversight of climate financing.