COP31 opens in Turkey amid energy crisis and US absence

COP31 opened in Antalya, Turkey, with over 100,000 participants from nearly 200 countries, amid geopolitical tensions, an energy crisis, and the absence of the US administration. The conference, co-led by Turkey and Australia, focuses on electrification, proposing to raise electricity's share of global energy consumption to 35% by 2035. African nations demand tripling adaptation finance, following the COP29 pledge of $300 billion annually by 2035. The UN warns the planet remains off-track from the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target. The US, the second-largest emitter, is not represented, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the Turkish-Australian leadership in reaching compromises.