The two-week COP31 conference in Türkiye opened under heavy pressure following devastating weather disasters, yet expectations for breakthroughs remain low. Compounding the challenge, prominent figures from top-emitting nations are absent, leaving British Prime Minister Andy Burnham as the only G7 leader slated to speak. Host nation Türkiye is pushing a voluntary initiative to raise electricity's share of global energy consumption to 35 percent by 2035 across industry, transport, and buildings. Meanwhile, debates persist between nations prioritizing developmental energy security and the European Union's insistence on strictly clean power sources.
Key points
Geopolitical conflicts and an ongoing oil price shock have significantly lowered expectat…: Geopolitical conflicts and an ongoing oil price shock have significantly lowered expectations for major conference breakthroughs.
Host nation Türkiye is advocating for a voluntary target to increase electricity's share…: Host nation Türkiye is advocating for a voluntary target to increase electricity's share of energy consumption to 35 percent by 2035.
The summit highlights deep divisions between leaders prioritizing energy security and the…: The summit highlights deep divisions between leaders prioritizing energy security and the European Union demanding clean energy transitions.
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"Fossil fuels must go the way of the dinosaurs, but that won't happen on its own" said UN chief Antonio Guterres at the COP31 climate summit in Türkiye.
The two-week COP31 talks kicked off in Türkiye this week with governments under pressure to tackle climate change after a year of searing heatwaves and wildfires in Europe, and deadly floods in Nepal.
"The brutal truth is that the climate crisis is outrunning us," Guterres told dozens of world leaders assembled in the Mediterranean city of Antalya for two days of speeches by heads of state and government.
But few major breakthroughs are anticipated at the COP31 negotiations, which run until Nov 20, as countries grapple with an oil price shock and geopolitical tensions fuelled by the US war with Iran and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Since agreeing in 2023 for the first time to transition away from fossil fuels - the main driver of climate change - nations have struggled to advance that goal at the annual UN conferences.
"Fossil fuels must go the way of the dinosaurs, but that won't…
Extensive preventative measures grounded operations at four international airports and suspended Lisbon's Web Summit technology conference as extreme weather battered the mainland. The aggressive response reflects government efforts to avert political fallout following severe criticism over fatal flooding incidents during earlier storms this year. Although wind gusts surpassed 120 km/h, the country avoided major structural destruction before weather alerts were downgraded.
Severe weather compounding days of torrential rain has paralyzed major transport networks and public infrastructure across the Iberian Peninsula. Authorities mobilized the armed forces and kept emergency responders on high alert as surging water levels threatened widespread flash flooding. The back-to-back systems have displaced thousands of residents and forced widespread shutdowns across both urban and coastal regions.
Environmental conditions in the capital have deteriorated again following a brief period of slight relief. Residents across the National Capital Region face heightened health risks as toxic pollution levels climb once more. The downturn signals ongoing challenges in mitigating seasonal atmospheric hazards across the metropolitan area.