From MIT Technology Review · · 2m
COP31 climate talks begin in Turkey amid high stakes
Thousands gather in Antalya for UN climate negotiations as the world misses its warming targets and grapples with fossil fuel dependence.
In brief
Thousands gather in Antalya for UN climate negotiations as the world misses its warming targets and grapples with fossil fuel dependence. COP31 opened in Antalya, Turkey on November eighth with the US absent and global warming set to exceed the one point five degrees Celsius Paris Agreement target within years…
COP31 opens in Turkey
Thousands of delegates, lobbyists and journalists gathered in Antalya, Turkey for the annual UN climate talks. COP31 officially kicked off on November eight, scheduled to wrap up on November twenty.
US absent from negotiations
This year's COP will be the second without a formal US delegation.President Trump formally withdrew the country from the Paris Agreement earlier this year and is withdrawing from the UN Framework Committee on Climate Change.
World missing warming target
The Paris Agreement, established eleven years ago, set a goal of limiting warming to one point five degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels.
“likely within the next few years”
Climate finance gap widens
Two years ago, talks set a goal of mobilizing three hundred billion dollars per year by twenty thirty-five to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.
Himalayan glacier collapse kills thousands
A glacier collapse caused devastating flooding in the Himalayas earlier this year, killing approximately one thousand five hundred people, leaving over five thousand missing and causing nearly five billion dollars in damage.
Fossil fuels back in focus
Three years ago, COP agreements explicitly called for a transition away from fossil fuels.But last year's final agreement did not mention fossil fuels once.Cohosts Turkey and Australia face criticism over their relationships with these fuels.
New pledges on AI and electricity
COP31 president Murat Kurum is spearheading informal initiatives outside formal negotiations.One pledge aims to make AI more sustainable but creates no new obligations.
Implementation COP expected
Leadership is billing this as an implementation COP focused on tangible progress on climate change.
What matters most
COP31 opened in Antalya, Turkey on November eighth with the US absent and global warming set to exceed the one point five degrees Celsius Paris Agreement target within years.
