World leaders and power sector executives gathered in Antalya, Türkiye, for the 31st UN climate conference (COP31), where warnings about the 1.5-degree threshold accompanied fossil fuel expansion by hosts.
Around 100 heads of state arrived for the two-day leaders' summit, which opened on Wednesday. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told delegates that "fossil fuels must go the way of the dinosaurs." He noted the nine largest oil companies made $95 billion last quarter. The Loss and Damage Fund, created to help vulnerable developing nations recover from climate change disasters, has received $600 million. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared, "We are at a global tipping point," citing a UN report stating that exceeding the 1.5-degree threshold compared with pre-industrial levels is now inevitable. Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine warned that without urgent action, "the world we know is over."
Human Rights Watch reported that Türkiye continues to expand coal operations despite hosting the conference. The group noted that coal accounted for 33.9 percent of Türkiye's electricity generation in 2025. Türkiye is one of only four European nations without a coal phase-out commitment. Australia, the summit's co-host, is also pursuing fossil fuel expansion, according to the rights group.
Fifteen countries signed a statement at the summit advocating policy levers to scale carbon credit markets and direct capital to climate action. Several nations also endorsed the Turkish presidency's "35 by 35" electrification pledge, which aims to increase the share of electrified end-energy consumption to 35 percent by 2035. Philanthropic groups pledged $88 million to Brazil's Tropical Forest Forever Facility, and the Netherlands reaffirmed plans to invest up to $500 million.
Electricity providers are leading the business presence at the conference, according to the Financial Times. Dutch media reported that the promised $300 billion in climate finance is a major stumbling block. Guterres proposed a "Climate Justice Compact" and a windfall tax on oil companies.
Oxfam counted 87 private jets landing in Antalya. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband warned that the climate crisis poses a major threat to national security. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan left the welcome line to avoid greeting Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, leaving Guterres to greet him alone.
