Who holds the key roles at the Cop31 climate talks
Australia will run the negotiations and Turkey will host, while major emitters and leaders weigh how much they will take part in Antalya.
Key points
- Cop31 takes place in Antalya, Turkey, with Australia in charge of negotiations, according to The Guardian.
- Turkey controls the action agenda, a programme of voluntary initiatives.
- China and India remain central because of their emissions and clean energy growth.
- The US will not send an official delegation after withdrawing from the UN climate framework.
- The UK will take on the G20 presidency from December.
The Cop31 UN climate summit opens in the Turkish city of Antalya, and a number of key figures will shape the talks. According to The Guardian, the event is shared between two hosts, with Australia running the negotiations and Turkey controlling a programme of voluntary initiatives.
Australia and Turkey share the hosting
Australia won the right to lead the negotiations after a long wait and a dispute with Turkey over the hosting arrangements. The Guardian reports that Australian media has paid far less attention to Cop31 than to earlier host countries. Anthony Albanese is due to address the start of the leaders’ portion, though he probably will not remain for long.
Chris Bowen, who holds the climate and energy portfolio in Australia, runs the day-to-day talks. His brief also covers parts of the country’s energy supply, so he must support fossil fuel output while promoting a shift to clean energy. Australia remains one of the world’s major fossil fuel exporters, but it has invested heavily in solar and other renewables.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan showed little interest in climate issues before his country bid to host. His government, through environment minister Murat Kurum, now leads the action agenda. Erdoğan has used it to promote waste reduction and the circular economy, a cause championed by his wife, Emine Erdoğan.
Major emitters and their positions
China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and produces nearly a third of global annual carbon output. Its president, Xi Jinping, will not attend, but his country’s energy and industrial changes will strongly influence the outcome. The Guardian notes that countries pushing for a low-carbon future may matter most as buyers of Chinese goods.
India has withdrawn its bid to host the Cop33 summit in 2028. Its clean energy sector is now the third largest in the world by installed renewable capacity, yet coal still supplies about 70% of its electricity. Environment minister Bhupender Yadav leads its delegations and is seen as a forward thinker.
Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, will attend for his first trip abroad since winning a fourth term. He will bring two non-binding roadmaps, one on moving away from fossil fuels and one on halting deforestation. They set out possible steps but include no firm deadlines.
The US, UK and EU
The United States is not expected to send an official delegation. Donald Trump’s administration has moved to exit the UN climate convention, which means no American team will be able to take part once that step is complete. Some Democratic lawmakers, state governors and business leaders may still attend.
UK prime minister Andy Burnham will attend for the first time. The UK will take over the rotating G20 presidency in December and plans to focus on resilience against climate impacts. The EU has weakened some green rules in recent years, and its climate commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, will oversee its final stages of talks.
Why the summit matters
The UN secretary general, António Guterres, will attend his last UN climate summit. His successor has not yet been chosen. Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN climate body, will coordinate the talks between the two co-hosts and the wider group of parties. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed who will lead its delegation, and The Guardian reports a long record of obstructing UN climate efforts.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Cop31 climate summit being held?
According to The Guardian, Cop31 is taking place in the Turkish city of Antalya. Australia is in charge of the negotiations, while Turkey controls the action agenda.
Will the United States send a delegation to Cop31?
The Guardian reports that no official US delegation is expected. Because the government is moving to leave the UN climate convention, American officials will not be able to take part, although some lawmakers and business leaders may attend.
Sources
- The Guardian: Who’s who at Cop31: key players at the climate talks
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
