COP31, which is taking place in Antalya, Türkiye, in November, must demonstrate that multilateral climate cooperation remains strong, despite geopolitical instability and energy shocks, UNFCCC executive secretary Simon Stiell has said.
Stiell was commenting during the closing segment of the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial on 21 May, where he said that 2026 is “another crucial year in a crucial decade for climate action”.
As he put it, the conflict in the Middle East has “ignited a fossil fuel cost crisis”, which in turn underlines the importance of the clean energy transition.
‘Accelerate implementation’
Following the UNFCCC June Climate Meetings, taking place this year in Bonn, Stiell urged parties to come to COP31 “ready to advance and deliver outcomes – showing that despite global turmoil, climate multilateralism remains strong, [and] that our process is helping parties to accelerate implementation and unlock ambition.”
Stiell noted that the coming years will be decisive in terms of keeping the goals of the Paris Agreement within reach, adding that the forthcoming COP should aim for “concrete outcomes” in areas of most urgency.
This includes investment in grids and electrification, methane reduction, resilient cities, and food security, he noted.
Action Agenda
Along with the climate finance obligations of developed countries, he pointed to the UNFCCC‘s 2026-2030 Action Agenda as playing a “vital role” in delivering a roadmap to the previously discussed $1.3 trillion climate finance ambition for developing countries.
“We are keenly watching developments on the COP30 Presidency Roadmaps, and importantly how our Australian friends will steward us on delivering on our major negotiated outcomes, such as Just Transition, and generating political momentum and resolving unnecessary long-standing issues such as access to finance,” he added.
“Over these vital years, we also need the most ambitious among you taking the lead – coming together to make progress further and faster than consensus allows.”
COP31 is being physically hosted by Türkiye, with Australia holding the role of president of negotiations. Read more here.
[Photo: UN Climate Change / Kiara Worth]
