Cop31 talks open in Turkey with climate finance at centre

Its host says the Cop31 summit has to show progress that is visibly genuine. Delegates from nearly 190 nations are heading to Turkey for the UN climate talks, which open on Monday, and a large number of national leaders are also expected, according to The Guardian.

The gathering comes as countries deal with what scientists call the strongest El Niño weather pattern on record. Fossil fuels are said to have intensified it, and it is forecast to claim hundreds of thousands of lives and cause trillions of dollars in damage. Global temperatures this year have gone beyond the 1.5C ceiling that the 2015 Paris accord set as a goal.

Read also: Who holds the key roles at the Cop31 climate talks

A split presidency

The talks will be unusual in having two hosts. Sessions take place in Antalya, a Turkish city, while Australia will chair the formal negotiations. That setup was agreed last year, after both countries put forward rival applications.

Chris Bowen, who holds Australia’s climate and energy portfolio and leads the negotiations, told the Guardian in an interview that the summit needs a result centred on carrying out emission reductions and funding, something people can verify. He added that Australia wants to draw attention to low-lying Pacific nations, which face an existential risk from the changing climate. Bowen pointed out that just 0.2% of global climate funding is directed toward small island developing states for adaptation.

Adão Soares Barbosa, who chairs the 44-member Least Developed Countries bloc, argued that the Paris accord will be judged on whether pledges are honoured and vulnerable populations are protected.

Disagreements and absent parties

Rich and poor countries are expected to clash over who should cover the costs of climate damage, and over how slowly emissions are being reduced. Developing nations and civil society groups intend to make funding and fairness the main focus of the discussions.

The United States will not be represented by a government delegation, for a second consecutive year. A White House spokesperson said the administration rejects approaches it labels as extremist on climate. Twenty Democratic members of Congress will attend anyway, encouraged by their party’s strong result in last week’s midterm elections.

Campaigners and more than 500 researchers in Australia have called on the government to halt new coal mine and gas project approvals, warning that otherwise the country risks being seen as hypocritical. Australia ranks among the largest shippers of coal and LNG worldwide.

Proposals on the table

Turkey, as host, is encouraging other states to shift toward battery cars and heat pumps, which it says use far less energy than fossil-fuel versions. A goal for electricity to supply 35% of global final energy by 2035 is up for discussion, though some countries oppose it.

Both countries holding the presidency lean heavily on fossil fuels. Australia’s Labor government has a net zero target for 2050 and aims for over 80% of its electricity from solar and wind by 2030, yet it is behind on those goals. The rightwing One Nation party and the Liberal and National coalition want to scrap the net zero target.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• The Guardian: Cop31 must deliver climate progress that people can see is real, host says

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