The 2026 UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) will be held from 9-20 November 2026 in Antalya, Trkiye.
at COP30, Parties accepted Trkiye’s o?er to host COP31 while endorsing an unprecedented arrangement.
trkiye and Australia will share the presidency, with Australia acting as the ‘President of negotiations.’ A Pre-COP meeting is expected to take place in the Paci?c.
australian Climate Minister Chris Bowen con?rmed that Australia will hold full negotiating authority- including managing talks, preparing draft texts, and issuing the ?nal cover decision-despite the summit being held in Trkiye. 2026 Conference to Encompass ? 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the UNFCCC ? 21st CMP to the Kyoto Protocol ? 8th CMA to the Paris Agreement ? 65th sessions of SBSTA and SBI Shared Presidency: Trkiye Hosts, Australia Runs the Negotiations Diplomatic Compromise After Yearlong Stalemate Australia initially had greater support to host COP31, but Trkiye refused to withdraw its bid. Had Trkiye blocked Australia within the Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG), the summit would have defaulted to Bonn, Germany. Calling such an outcome ‘irresponsible,’ Bowen reached an agreement with Turkish Minister Murat Kurum: Antalya will host COP31, Australia will preside over negotiations, and Paci?c Island nations will host the Pre-COP and a pledging event for the Paci?c Resilience Fund. Nevertheless, Paci?c representatives expressed disappointment. Palau’s Ambassador Ilana Seid said she was ‘very disappointed that it’s not going to be a Paci?c COP,’ though discussions continue about holding the Pre-COP in a Paci?c nation. Location Secondary to Outcomes Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, emphasized that the venue is ‘secondary to what COP31 delivers,’ highlighting the need for strong progress on climate ambition, ?nance, and the global energy transition. However, some Turkish diplomats expressed frustration over losing the presidency: ‘We bear the burden, butthey hold the power. We do the work but they make the decisions.’ Catherine Abreu, head of the International Climate Politics Hub, said Australia must demonstrate genuine leadership by not obstructing adaptation ?nance negotiations at COP30. She also urged Trkiye to honor its ambition for a ‘loweremissions COP’ by supporting a roadmap for a just fossil fuel phase-out. Concerns over Civic Freedom in Trkiye With worries about democratic backsliding, civil society groups have raised concerns about freedoms during COP31. Marta Schaaf, of Amnesty International, urged Trkiye to ensure: ‘Full respect for freedom of expression and the right to protest so climate justice advocates can participate without fear.’ Key Issues for COP31 Following COP30’s ‘Mutirão’ decision, Brazil will hand over two major roadmaps: 1.
a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels 2. Halting and reversing deforestation globally Additional issues expected at COP31 include: ? Post-2020 global climate ?nance ? Seventh review of the ?nancial mechanism ? Periodic review of the long-term global goal under the UNFCCC ? Updates on progress toward global climate targets ? Mountain ecosystems issues Antalya: The Host City Antalya, known as the tourism capital of Trkiye, is a historic Mediterranean city with: ? Population: 2.3 million (5th largest in Trkiye) ? Tourism: Over 10 million visitors annually, accounting for 25% of Trkiye’s tourism ? Geography: Suitable for year-round tourism ? Heritage: Settled since 2000 BCE, shaped by numerous civilizations from the Seljuks and Ottomans to the modern Republic ? Economy: Strong in tourism, agriculture, logistics, services, and industry With its beaches, national parks, ancient ruins, vibrant city life, and award-winning marina, Antalya is a major hub of economic and cultural activity