COP31 has begun in Türkiye this week. 'COP' is the United Nations Climate Conference, a Conference of Parties “the largest international summit to negotiate and advance global cooperation on climate change”.
This year’s event is hosted by Australia but held in Antalya, Türkiye. COP31 brings together representatives of government, business, civil society and more from around the world. These international climate conferences happen annually and resulted in the major international breakthrough, the 2015 Paris Agreement.
The aim was, and remains, to set the world on course to slow and, one day, stop climate change, which is already driving up temperatures, strengthening storms, prolonging droughts, and raising sea levels.
COPs have grown hugely in recent years, with COP26 held in Glasgow, last year’s held in Brazil. This year Andy Burnham (UK Prime Minister) will attend his first COP, with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Miatta Fahnbulleh -Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Minister for Climate Transition Katie White. The Prince of Wales is also expected to attend alongside the UK delegation, with Scottish Government Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin also heading to COP31.
“COP is where the world comes together to agree on the actions to address the climate crisis, such as limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, supporting adaptation and resilience to droughts, floods and other climate impacts and transitioning away from planet-heating fossil fuels.
Negotiations on issues such as adapting to climate impacts, reducing greenhouse gas pollution, climate finance for developing countries, and a just transition for workers and communities will take place. This year will also see a big emphasis on the Climate Action Agenda: a separate, yet complementary track at COP31, which brings together businesses, cities, states and civil society to find and share solutions to climate issues including climate impacts on health and food, electrifying everything from buildings to cars, reducing waste and making cities more resilient to climate change.” UN
This vital two week conference allows worldwide cooperation as nations attempt to solve a global problem. As the super El Niño looms, the process is even more vital to safeguard economic growth, jobs, food security, better health and safety and affordable clean energy.
“COP31 will bring together world leaders and negotiators from the member states (or Parties) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to further global progress.”
The World Meteorological Organisation issued its State of the Climate Update to coincide with the opening of COP31. It's key messages:
2026 will be one of four warmest years on record
El Niño turns up the heat and multiplies risks
Sea level and ocean heat are at record high levels
Extreme weather has massive economic and human cost
Forecasts and warnings, underpinned by sustained observations, are vital
The WMO is a key contributor; other attendees are business leaders, young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, and others “sharing insights and best practices to strengthen global, collective and inclusive climate action.”
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell delivers opening remarks (Photo: © UN Climate Change - Kiara Worth)
"COP31 must supercharge solutions” UN Climate Chief on opening day of the 31st Conference of Parties in Antalya, Türkiye.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell addressed the official opening of COP31 in early November 2026.
“In this new era of implementation, at COP31, we’re doing things differently. [building on what went before], honing it. To deliver progress faster...COPs have traditionally sent signals: Setting global targets. Deciding the direction of travel. Building momentum and resolve.
Since forging the Paris Agreement together, we’ve sent signal after signal to political systems and global markets. That changed our world. 90% of large renewable projects are now cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives. And adaptation is moving from the margins to the mainstream.
But progress is nowhere near far enough or fair enough. So, as well as sending signals, COP31 must supercharge solutions… practical solutions.”
The tripling of finance for adaptation, as agreed last year, but also tackling the frustration that countries face accessing that finance. To triple global renewables capacity by 2030, and transporting energy to power the electric age.
“ to slash super-polluting methane emissions, particularly in the oil and gas and waste sectors – including learning from leading energy producers.
This is the best way we can tackle overshoot right now: lassoing it back with solution after solution. And from now on, there’ll be more space at COPs for countries to coordinate their delivery.”
Thinking about practical steps, the COP31 Yearbook of Global Climate Action highlights progress - in clean power as renewable capacity grew “and renewables overtook coal in electricity generation (33.8 compared to 33.0 per cent).”
Transport is electrifying, explicit fossil fuel subsidies are falling, and forest and ocean protection are gaining ground, with deforestation falling by nearly 14 per cent in 2025. Food security is improving as undernourishment fell as did the share of people unable to afford a healthy diet.
National climate plans and resilience planning are advancing as the number of countries with multi-hazard early warning systems rose from 108 to 119. This has been a groundbreaking UN initiative, 'Early Warnings for All' (EW4All)
As the nations of the world await what more this building, intense El Niño will bring, the global climate continues to warm.
“No COP is a silver bullet. No single conference can bridge the chasm between the science and reality. We must deal with the world as it is, not as we might wish it to be. Every recent COP has delivered strides forward. This one must too,” Stiell
COP31 runs until 20th November and covers topics such as: Action for Climate Empowerment & Children and Youth, Climate Finance, Climate Technology, Innovation and Science.
COP31 website and live streaming
Top image - UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and Alan Dangour, Director of Climate and Health, The Wellcome Trust, speak during a WMO press conference. (also Nandita Surendran- WMO global communication and engagement) (Photo: © UN Climate Change - Kiara Worth)
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