Cop31 opens in Antalya with low ambitions and traffic gridlock

The Cop31 climate summit in Antalya, Turkey, has opened with a low-ambition agenda and severe traffic gridlock, setting a subdued tone for the global negotiations. Delegates have been quietly advised not to expect significant progress from the two-week event. The agenda, largely pre-agreed by 196 countries, focuses on procedural checks of existing commitments rather than new actions. Efforts to cut emissions remain insufficient, while finance pledges for clean energy are being reallocated without new funds. Proposals on adaptation finance, mountains, and sustainable diets were rejected or withdrawn. A slight dip in fossil fuel emissions, attributed to reduced consumption during the Iran war, is offset by rising wildfire emissions. Despite the muted start, thousands of enthusiastic non-governmental attendees have filled the venue, though world leaders arriving midweek face further traffic disruptions.