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

On Saturday, thousands of protesters gathered in Antalya, Turkey, to demand climate justice as the halfway point of COP31 approached. The demonstrators accused the climate summit of failing those most affected by environmental destruction, as negotiators struggled to reach a deal by Friday. The rally, the largest since the conference began on Monday, saw participants dressed in costumes and holding bird effigies, marching under police supervision despite rainy conditions.

Halime Saman, a representative from the People’s Climate Summit platform, stated that her people were suffering the consequences of climate injustice but were never heard at the COP. Turkish co-chair of COP31, Mustafa AY, admitted there was no roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, with new power stations and coal mines being opened, despite the country's commitment to environmental protection.

Police estimated that over 7,000 people attended the protest, which was organized by environmental groups, trade unions, and rights organizations. While smaller demonstrations inside the COP31 venue have pressured political leaders to act faster on the climate crisis, negotiators remain far apart on key issues such as financing adaptation measures, defending climate science, and transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy.

The summit is taking place amid a conflict-driven energy crisis and geopolitical tensions, making a climate quick fix unlikely. UN climate chief, Simon Stiell, emphasized that there is no magic solution, but each COP must drive progress towards a sustainable future.