Turkey climate summit shifts focus to diplomatic networking

The COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Turkey, has become a major diplomatic networking event, with leaders prioritizing bilateral meetings and regional ties over climate discussions. The conference, running from November 9-20, is overshadowed by global conflicts including the US-Iran war and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is using the summit to showcase diplomatic influence, hosting 102 leaders from 95 countries. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa attended to demonstrate Syria's return to international diplomacy, while Iraqi and Iranian leaders used the platform for political engagement, with Iran demanding compensation for alleged US and Israeli environmental damage. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that "the climate crisis is outrunning us," but expectations for breakthroughs are low. Several major leaders are absent, including US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with only British Prime Minister Andy Burnham from G7 countries scheduled to address the summit.