{
  "id": 19790187,
  "title": "World leaders set out clashing priorities as COP31 turns to negotiations",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/world-leaders-set-out-clashing-priorities-as-cop31-turns-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T10:18:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-11-13-world-leaders-set-out-clashing-priorities-as-cop31-turns-to-negotiations/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "World leaders have presented conflicting positions and made conflicting demands during the first two days of intense speeches at COP31 climate talks in Turkey, leaving negotiators with the difficult task of drafting an agreement acceptable to all parties. Small island nations, among the most vulnerable to rising sea levels due to global warming, have called for urgent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. European leaders have supported a proposal to expand global electrification, while developing countries have asked for increased financial support from wealthier nations. Fossil fuel producers have argued that oil, gas, and coal should continue to be utilized.\n\nVenezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez reiterated her country's sovereign right to expand its energy and oil industry as a means of national development, despite UN leaders advocating for the end of the fossil fuel era. Apart from addressing the differing national positions expressed on Wednesday and Thursday, Turkey, as the conference host, and Australia, the lead negotiator, must also contend with the challenge of making progress while wars and inflation have taken precedence over climate concerns on the political agenda. Chris Bowen, Australia's COP31 president of negotiations, emphasized his role in steering consensus towards the most ambitious outcome within the constraints of the consensus-driven process.\n\nClimate activists argue that short-term political considerations should not hinder addressing an issue that will become increasingly pressing if neglected. A UN report released last month indicated that the world is already on track to surpass the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warming limit set by the 2015 Paris Agreement to avert the worst impacts of climate change. The planet is not merely at risk; it is being devastated, according to Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who expressed her concerns on the sidelines of the UN conference. She emphasized that the destruction is being caused by the very individuals who are often expected to provide a solution.\n\nSmall island states, including the Bahamas, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, and Saint Lucia, have urged for prompt action, demanding that major emitters move beyond mere promises and implement substantial reductions in emissions. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham endorsed Turkey's proposal to increase the share of electricity in global energy consumption to 35% by 2035, although he did not specify whether the additional energy would be renewable. Burnham argued that disruptions in energy supply caused by the US-Israeli war with Iran and Russia's conflict with Ukraine underscore the necessity of clean energy as the prudent choice. He contended that relying on uncontrollable energy sources exposes countries to unpredictable pricing and urged the shift to clean energy as the only path to energy security. Fernanda de Carvalho, head of climate policy for the World Wildlife Fund, expressed disappointment with the leaders' speeches, particularly given that COP31 is the first UN conference since scientists publicly stated that the world is set to exceed the 1.5C threshold. She stressed the concerning fact that the climate issue is not currently as high on the global political agenda as it needs to be.",
  "summary": "World leaders have set out competing positions and made clashing demands in two days of intense speech-making at the COP31 climate change talks in Turkey, leaving negotiators with a tough task to draft a meaningful deal that all can agree.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "World leaders set out clashing priorities as COP31 turns to negotiations",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/world-leaders-set-out-clashing-priorities-as-cop31-turns-to",
        "published": "2026-11-12T10:46:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "World leaders set out clashing priorities as COP31 turns to negotiations",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/world-leaders-set-out-clashing-priorities-as-cop31-turns-to-19684850",
        "published": "2026-11-12T17:36:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}