UN climate chief warns fossil fuel prices fuel global inflation at Cop31

UN's chief climate negotiator Simon Stiell opened Cop31 in Turkey on Monday, warning that high fossil fuel prices are "spreading inflation like a cancer" globally and urging accelerated action on renewable energy and electrification. Nearly 200 countries are attending the two-week talks in Antalya, with Australia leading negotiations. Delegates face pressure to deliver results amid growing dissatisfaction with slow progress, as climate scientists confirm global heating will exceed the 1.5C Paris target. The summit comes as a historic El Niño builds and after catastrophic flooding in Nepal and Tibet killed at least 1,459 people. A proposed goal aims to raise electricity's share of final energy consumption from one-fifth to one-third by 2035.