World leaders are due to address the UN climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, on Wednesday, 11 November. The two-day leaders’ summit runs through Thursday, while the wider COP31 conference continues until 20 November.
Negotiators are seeking agreement on a plan to meet more of the world’s energy needs with electricity, Reuters reported. They are also looking to revive stalled efforts to shift away from fossil fuels. Delegations from nearly 200 countries are taking part in the talks, as global greenhouse gas emissions show little sign of declining.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is among the expected speakers. Brazil hosted last year’s UN climate conference. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine are also expected to speak on Wednesday.
The United States is absent from the talks for a second consecutive year, Reuters reported, following President Donald Trump’s decision to pull back from international climate cooperation after returning to office in 2025.
Sources · Reuters and the UN Climate Change summit schedule.
