COP31 climate summit opens in Türkiye amid calls for funding and action

ANTALYA · World leaders, climate negotiators and scientists are gathering in Antalya, Türkiye, for the start of the COP31 United Nations climate change conference. The summit runs from November 9 to 20 and aims to strengthen global cooperation on tackling climate change. Discussions will focus on turning existing climate commitments into practical action. The meeting comes as countries worldwide face rising temperatures and increasing extreme weather events. The Conference of the Parties, or COP, is the annual meeting for countries that are part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is a forum for governments to review progress and negotiate solutions. The landmark Paris Agreement was forged at COP21 in 2015, committing nations to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, with a preferred target of 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

A key issue on the COP31 agenda is climate finance for developing nations. According to UN Climate Change, these countries are calling on wealthier nations to meet their financial commitments under the Paris Agreement. Negotiations will centre on funding responsibilities, access to finance and how to direct investment towards climate action. Developing countries are also seeking more financial support for climate adaptation efforts.

Negotiators will also discuss how to strengthen global efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Countries remain divided on how to meet their existing climate pledges. The conference will launch the second global stocktake, a process to review collective progress toward the Paris Agreement's long-term goals. Beyond government delegations, participants include businesses, scientists, Indigenous communities, young people and civil society groups.

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In an interview with UN News, Selwin Hart, the UN Special Adviser on Climate Action and Just Transition, said the world is now better equipped to tackle climate change. He pointed to the rapid growth of electric vehicles, solar energy and battery storage. However, Hart noted that many developing countries still struggle to secure investment for clean energy projects. Emerging and developing economies outside China, home to nearly two-thirds of the world's population, received just 18 percent of global clean energy investment in 2025. Hart highlighted Africa, where around 600 million people still lack access to electricity despite the continent's renewable energy potential. He said financing clean energy projects in developing countries can cost several times more than in wealthier nations. Financial solutions are needed that do not increase the debt burden on developing countries, he added.

Despite these challenges, progress in clean energy technology is notable. The United Nations reports that electric vehicles accounted for one in four new cars sold worldwide in 2025, with that share expected to reach 28 percent in 2026. The world added over 600 gigawatts of solar power capacity in 2025, making up more than three-quarters of new renewable power capacity. Global battery storage capacity has grown to 11 times its 2021 level. COP31 may not resolve the climate crisis in its two-week run, but it could help address barriers that prevent existing climate solutions from reaching the people who need them.

With files from CNBC TV18