COP31 Opens in Antalya as First Climate Summit Since US Exit From Paris Agreement
Nearly 200 countries have gathered in Antalya for COP31, the first UN climate summit since the US left the Paris Agreement, with finance and the 1.5°C limit in focus.
The 31st United Nations climate summit opened in Antalya, Türkiye, on Monday, bringing together representatives from nearly 200 countries for two weeks of negotiations that will test whether global climate action can advance without the United States. COP31, which runs until 20 November, is the first conference of the parties since Washington left the Paris Agreement earlier this year. (Source: The Indian Express)
The summit brings together three formal tracks: the 31st conference under the UN climate convention, the 21st meeting of parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the eighth meeting of parties to the Paris Agreement. A World Leaders' Summit is scheduled for 11 and 12 November. In an unusual arrangement, Türkiye holds the COP presidency and hosts the event, while Australia leads the formal negotiations. (Source: The Indian Express)
The absence of the United States, the largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases, hangs over the talks. With Washington out of the Paris Agreement, developing countries are pressing Europe and other wealthy nations to fill the gap in climate finance, and the question of who pays for the transition is expected to dominate the two weeks. (Source: The Indian Express)
The summit also opens against a stark scientific backdrop. The Copernicus Climate Change Service has warned that 2026 is now virtually certain to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while a recent UN Environment Programme report warns that global warming is set to breach the 1.5°C threshold that countries pledged to pursue under the Paris Agreement. (Source: The Print)
The backdrop is further complicated by war and energy insecurity. The conference opens months after war broke out in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz was closed, and as surging electricity demand from artificial intelligence adds new pressure to power systems. French President Emmanuel Macron is among the leaders who will not attend the leaders' summit. (Source: Le Monde)
Expectations for a landmark treaty are low. Diplomats and analysts describe this as a transitional COP, with the real contest over delivery: mobilising finance, measuring progress against existing pledges, and accelerating the shift to clean energy. The Brazilian presidency of COP30, held last November, has published a roadmap for moving away from coal, oil and gas, which is set to be presented in Antalya. (Source: Le Monde)
Türkiye's presidency has centred the summit on electrification, calling for electricity to rise from about 23 percent of global final energy use today to 35 percent by 2035. It is also asking governments, businesses and institutions to sign a pledge on developing and deploying artificial intelligence sustainably. (Source: BusinessWorld)
India arrives with a central seat at the table, co-chairing consultations on cutting emissions. New Delhi submitted its third national climate plan, covering 2031 to 2035, in April, and is seeking predictable finance and technology support in the negotiations. (Source: The Indian Express)
UN climate chief Simon Stiell has expressed optimism ahead of the summit, saying the talks will focus on turning commitments into action, with climate finance, adaptation, emission cuts, technology transfer and a just transition expected to dominate. The test over the next two weeks will be whether nearly 200 countries, meeting without the world's largest economy at the table, can agree on who funds the next phase of the energy transition. (Source: The Print)
This article was researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against multiple independent sources.
