COP31 opens in Turkey as leaders face pressure on climate action
COP31 climate talks opened Monday in Antalya, Turkey, with UN chief Antonio Guterres urging leaders to "get serious" on cutting emissions after a year of extreme weather events, including European heatwaves and Indonesian wildfires. The summit began with disputes over climate finance, as developing nations pushed for agenda items on funding. A source said a climate finance work programme would be included, but no separate point on tripling adaptation finance was agreed, with an EU official warning of no political will for new pledges. Turkey and Australia co-host the talks, branded the "implementation COP," focusing on concrete action. Turkey proposed a voluntary electrification pledge, though the EU seeks "clean" electrification. US President Donald Trump did not send officials, but a congressional delegation attended.