COP31, the 2026 United Nations climate summit, takes place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026. Representatives of more than 190 countries will negotiate on climate finance for developing nations, deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and funding for countries hit hardest by climate damage. The central question is whether governments can turn existing pledges into measurable action. This explainer covers the agenda, the key players and what to watch.
What Is COP31?
COP stands for Conference of the Parties, the annual meeting of the countries that signed the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. COP31 is the 31st meeting. These summits produced the 2015 Paris Agreement, under which countries agreed to limit global warming to well below 2°C and to pursue efforts to keep it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Türkiye is hosting this year’s summit after a compromise in 2025 between the two countries bidding for it, Türkiye and Australia. Türkiye’s environment minister, Murat Kurum, is COP31 President-designate.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates | 9 to 20 November 2026 |
| Location | Antalya, Türkiye |
| Leaders’ Summit | 11 to 12 November, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |
| Expected visitors | Around 100,000 international visitors across November |
| Countries represented | More than 190 |
| Main issues | Climate finance, emissions cuts, loss and damage, adaptation |
What Is on the COP31 Agenda?
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the Antalya talks will cover familiar themes from earlier summits: climate finance, greater emissions reductions and funding for loss and damage in countries that contributed least to climate change. Experts consulted by New Zealand’s Science Media Centre also highlighted the clean energy transition, ocean protection, waste reduction and making cities more resilient to extreme weather.
Why Is Climate Finance the Biggest Sticking Point?
Climate finance is the money wealthy countries provide to help developing countries cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts. At COP29 in Baku in 2024, countries agreed a new goal of at least $300 billion a year by 2035, a figure many developing countries called far too low compared with their estimated needs. At Antalya, negotiators will be pressed on how that money is raised and delivered, how much comes as grants rather than loans and how quickly it reaches the countries that need it.
What Are Countries Expected to Deliver on Emissions?
Under the Paris Agreement, countries submit national climate plans called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) every five years, with a new round due in 2025. The UN has repeatedly reported that combined national plans fall short of what is needed to keep warming close to 1.5°C. COP31 is expected to focus on implementation: whether countries are building the renewable energy, grids and efficiency measures their plans promise. Analysts also expect a strong El Niño to intensify climate impacts in the months ahead, adding urgency to adaptation talks.
What Role Will the United States Play?
The United States, the largest historical emitter, formally left the Paris Agreement in January 2026 after President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal at the start of his second term. That means the US federal government is not part of commitments under the agreement, although US states, cities and companies often attend COP summits independently. The absence of the US federal government places more attention on the European Union, China and major emerging economies.
What Do Supporters and Critics Say About COP Summits?
Supporters argue that COPs are the only forum where almost every country negotiates on climate together, and that they have produced real commitments, from the Paris Agreement to the loss and damage fund agreed in 2022.
Critics argue that the summits produce pledges faster than results, that their size and travel create a large carbon footprint, and that hosting decisions have sometimes favoured fossil fuel producers. Some economists and business groups also warn that rapid climate policies can raise energy costs if not planned carefully.
Why Does COP31 Matter for Businesses?
- Regulation: COP outcomes shape national rules on emissions reporting, carbon pricing and product standards.
- Supply chains: large buyers increasingly ask suppliers for emissions data, a trend covered in our article on why sustainable business is the future.
- Investment: finance agreements influence funding for clean energy projects in emerging markets.
For a background on how these agreements work, read understanding climate agreements and what they require.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when is COP31?
In Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026.
Who is the COP31 President?
Murat Kurum, Türkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, is COP31 President-designate.
Is the US taking part in COP31?
The US left the Paris Agreement in January 2026, so the federal government is not part of its commitments. Non-federal US groups often attend COPs independently.
We will update this article with the main outcomes when the summit closes on 20 November.
