The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) started in Antalya on Monday, with Türkiye and Australia calling for faster implementation of global climate commitments, greater access to financing and stronger support for countries vulnerable to global warming.
COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum urged countries to make the summit an “Implementation COP,” focusing on translating climate pledges into concrete results. He outlined three guiding principles for Türkiye’s presidency: “Dialogue. Consensus. Action.”
Kurum said climate action must deliver tangible benefits for people, linking environmental commitments with food and energy security, economic development, public health, migration and the future of cities. He emphasized the need to move beyond declarations and accelerate practical solutions.
Australia’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who serves as COP31 president of negotiations, warned that the world remains on course to exceed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree Celsius warming threshold. However, he said the goal of limiting warming remains worth pursuing if countries act with urgency, solidarity and resolve.
Bowen called for stronger internation...