Antalya: The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) opened in Antalya, Turkey, on Monday, bringing together representatives from nearly 200 countries at a time when global efforts to tackle climate change are facing growing challenges from geopolitical conflicts, energy insecurity and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence.
The summit, which runs until November 20, began amid disagreements over climate finance, with developing countries pushing for greater attention to financial support for nations most affected by climate change. The opening ceremony was delayed by about an hour as countries discussed the conference agenda. The agenda was eventually adopted, although a proposal to include a separate item on tripling adaptation finance was not accepted because countries could not reach consensus.
The conference comes at a difficult time for international energy markets. The ongoing conflict involving the United States and Iran has disrupted oil shipments through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, increasing pressure on countries to secure alternative energy supplies.
The situation has raised concerns about a possible return to greater dependence on fossil fuels. Countries including India, South Korea and Thailand have increased their reliance on coal or taken measures to strengthen coal based electricity generation as they respond to energy supply pressures.
However, the energy crisis has also strengthened arguments for expanding renewable energy. Greater investment in solar, wind and other clean energy sources could help countries reduce their dependence on imported fossil fuels and improve energy security over the long term.
Artificial intelligence is emerging as another important issue at this year's summit. The growing use of AI is driving demand for large data centres and computing infrastructure, which require substantial amounts of electricity to operate and maintain cooling systems.
Although artificial intelligence can support climate research, improve energy efficiency and help manage electricity networks, its expanding infrastructure could increase greenhouse gas emissions if the electricity comes mainly from coal, oil and natural gas.
To address this challenge, the Turkish COP31 presidency is promoting the Antalya AI Pledge, an initiative aimed at encouraging the responsible and sustainable development of artificial intelligence.
Turkey is also seeking international support for its 35 by 35 Global Electrification Pledge. The initiative aims to increase electricity's share of global energy demand from around 20 per cent today to 35 per cent by 2035.
It encourages countries to expand the use of electricity in transport, buildings and industry through measures such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and cleaner industrial technologies.
However, increasing electricity consumption alone will not guarantee lower emissions. The environmental benefits will depend on how the electricity is generated. Countries will need to expand renewable energy production and strengthen their power networks to ensure that electrification contributes to climate goals.
The absence of the Trump administration from the climate negotiations is another significant concern. The United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement became effective on January 27, 2026. The administration has also initiated withdrawal from the wider United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a decision scheduled to take effect in February 2027.
However, a US congressional delegation is expected to attend the summit. Its participation does not represent the federal administration's official negotiating position.
The absence of the US administration could complicate discussions on emissions reduction, international cooperation and financial support for developing countries, given the country's economic influence and historical contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
Meanwhile, scientific assessments continue to warn that the world is not doing enough to limit global warming.
The United Nations Environment Programme's 2026 Emissions Gap Report says that global greenhouse gas emissions need to fall by around 45 per cent by 2035 compared with 2025 levels under the lowest possible pathway involving a temporary rise above the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold.
The report also estimates that current national climate commitments, even if fully implemented, could leave the world facing approximately 2.6 degrees Celsius of warming this century.
Although temporarily exceeding the 1.5 degree target is now considered difficult to avoid, scientists say stronger action could limit the duration and extent of the overshoot and potentially bring temperatures back towards that level by 2100.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell has urged governments to move faster, calling for practical measures such as reducing methane emissions and replacing fossil fuel power generation with renewable energy.
Climate finance is expected to remain another major issue during the negotiations, particularly for developing countries that face increasing costs from floods, droughts, extreme heat and other climate related disasters.
Under the agreement reached at COP29 in Azerbaijan in 2024, developed countries are expected to take the lead in mobilising at least $300 billion annually for developing countries by 2035. The agreement also calls for efforts to increase climate finance from all sources to at least $1.3 trillion annually by the same year.
For vulnerable countries, access to this funding is essential for protecting communities, rebuilding damaged infrastructure and preparing for future climate risks.
The urgency of these discussions has been reinforced by devastating weather events in different parts of the world. Nepal, for example, experienced catastrophic flooding in August, leaving communities devastated and causing extensive damage to roads, bridges, settlements and hydropower projects.
Turkey, which is hosting this year's summit, also faces questions about its own energy policies. Coal continues to account for a significant share of its electricity generation, even as the country expands its solar and wind capacity.
The Turkish government has announced ambitious plans under its National Energy Plan 2040, including increased renewable energy investment, wider electrification and a proposed investment requirement of around $500 billion.
Under the leadership arrangement for COP31, Turkey holds the conference presidency, while Australia leads the international negotiations. Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen is leading the country's role in the discussions.
As delegates begin their work in Antalya, attention will turn to whether governments can move beyond existing promises and agree on practical measures to reduce emissions, strengthen climate resilience and provide financial support to vulnerable nations.
With war, energy security and technological development increasingly influencing national decisions, COP31 faces the difficult task of bringing countries together around a common climate agenda.
The success of the summit will ultimately depend not on the number of new promises announced, but on whether countries can turn their commitments into meaningful action.