From the Guardian · · 3m
Cop31 opens with call for real climate progress
Nearly 190 countries gather in Turkey for UN climate talks as the world faces record temperatures and the strongest El Niño on record.
In brief
Nearly 190 countries gather in Turkey for UN climate talks as the world faces record temperatures and the strongest El Niño on record. Cop31 begins Monday in Turkey with Australia presiding, as countries seek tangible progress on climate finance and emissions cuts amid record heat and the strongest El Niño ever…
Summit opens Monday in Turkey
Close to 190 countries gather for Cop31 UN climate talks beginning Monday as the world grapples with record temperatures and the strongest El Niño weather system on record.
Dual presidency arrangement
The talks take place in the Turkish city of Antalya but formal negotiations will be presided over by Australia, following a compromise reached last year over their competing bids.
Host demands tangible outcomes
Chris Bowen, Australia's climate and energy minister and president of negotiations for Cop31, said the summit must produce progress that people can see is real and represents a step forward.
“We need a tangible outcome focused on implementation that people can see is real.”
Pacific nations face existential threat
Australia wants a strong outcome to raise the plight of low-lying Pacific countries for whom climate crisis poses an existential threat. Only 0.2% of world climate finance goes to small island developing states for adaptation.
US absent for second year
The US is refusing to send a delegation for the second year in a row. The Trump administration wants no part of what a White House spokesperson called extremist climate policies embraced by other countries.
Trump celebrates oil profits
Donald Trump expressed glee about huge profits made by oil and gas companies due to the Iran war, which he started and caused an increase in living costs around the world.
“I don't give a damn. I'm going to say it: we're making a frickin' fortune.”
Democrats attend despite Trump
A group of 20 Democratic members of Congress have made the trip to Antalya, buoyed by their party's stunning success in US midterms last week that will enable them to stymie Trump's attempts to dismantle…
Climate impacts accelerating
This summer more than 50,000 people died in Europe due to heatwaves. Severe wildfire smoke shrouded North America. A glacier collapse in Nepal triggered a landslide that caused more than 1,500 deaths.
Australia's fossil fuel contradiction
Australia is one of the world's leading exporters of coal and liquefied natural gas. The centre-left Labor government has targets to reach net zero emissions by 2050 but is off track to meet them.
Least developed countries demand action
Adão Soares Barbosa, chair of the Least Developed Countries negotiating group of 44 nations, said keeping 1.5C within reach and delivering climate finance are matters of survival, not political choices.
“The credibility of the Paris agreement will be measured not by promises made, but by commitments fulfilled, and lives protected in vulnerable countries.”
Finance gap leaves poorest behind
Rukiya Khamis, east Africa programme manager at 350.org, said people across east Africa face devastating climate impacts they did not cause while money needed to respond remains out of reach for affected countries.
“It is fundamentally unjust that those least responsible are being left to carry the greatest costs.”
In short
Cop31 begins Monday in Turkey with Australia presiding, as countries seek tangible progress on climate finance and emissions cuts amid record heat and the strongest El Niño ever recorded.
