Türkiye’s first climate summit faces early divisions over funding responsibilities, as developing nations push for greater financial support and negotiators prepare to review global progress under the Paris Agreement.
Türkiye expects 102 leaders from 95 countries and seven international organisations as UN climate talks begin in Antalya.
The United Nations climate conference opened in Antalya on Monday with governments unable to agree on whether to add a separate agenda item on tripling funding to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate change. The proposal did not gain consensus, though countries can still raise the issue elsewhere in the talks.
Türkiye’s environment ministry expects 102 leaders from 95 countries and seven international organisations to attend COP31, including 37 heads of state and 35 heads of government. The conference runs until 20 November, with a leaders’ summit scheduled for 11-12 November.
Türkiye is hosting the annual UN climate talks for the first time. Environment Minister Murat Kurum took over the COP presidency from Brazil’s André Corrêa do Lago, while Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen is leading the negotiations. Ankara has billed the conference as an “Implementation COP”, with an emphasis on carrying out commitments made at previous summits.
Who pays for climate action
Adaptation finance helps countries pay for measures such as flood defences, drought preparedness and early-warning systems. Developing countries are pressing wealthier nations to meet their funding commitments, while disagreements persist over who should contribute and how vulnerable countries can access the money. Bangladesh is among those calling for more grants to help countries adapt without adding to their debt. Negotiators will also discuss how to measure progress on adaptation.
Governments will also try to agree on how a mechanism approved last year in Belém, Brazil, can support workers and communities as economies shift to cleaner energy. Countries remain divided over whether to extend a UN work programme aimed at speeding up emissions cuts.
The conference will also launch the Paris Agreement’s second global stocktake, a review of how far countries have progressed collectively towards the agreement’s goals. It is due to conclude in 2028.
Expected participants named by Türkiye
The Turkish ministry named the following countries and delegations among those expected to send leaders or senior representatives.
Europe: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. The ministry also listed a Turkish Cypriot delegation from northern Cyprus.
Africa: Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo and Zimbabwe.
Asia and the Middle East: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Maldives, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan. The ministry also listed Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government separately.
The Americas: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Venezuela.
Oceania: Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Niue, Palau, the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu.
The ministry also reported leadership-level participation from the European Commission, the United Nations, the UN General Assembly, the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the International Energy Agency.
