World leaders meet in Antalya at COP31 as Guterres urges climate action

By Yusuf İnan | Wise News Press

ANTALYA, TÜRKİYE — World leaders gathered in Antalya for the COP31 Leaders’ Summit, where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed participants and UN Secretary-General António Guterres demanded faster climate action and a transition away from fossil fuels.

The two-day summit is providing heads of state and government with a platform to present national climate commitments, hold bilateral talks and seek collective solutions capable of accelerating implementation of the Paris Agreement.

World leaders receive an official welcome

The 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is being held at the Antalya Expo Center from November 9 to 20, bringing together the convention’s 197 Parties.

The Antalya Leaders’ Summit, the highest-level political event of COP31, is taking place on November 11 and 12 under the main theme “Towards a Sustainable, Resilient and Equitable Future.”

President Erdoğan and Guterres formally welcomed participating leaders in the Blue Zone before posing with the heads of state and government for the official family photograph.

Organisers said approximately 102 leaders representing 95 countries across six continents were expected to attend. The final number may vary depending on last-minute changes in representation and leaders’ schedules.

Among those welcomed were Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. Following the ceremony, participants moved to Anadolu Hall for the summit’s opening session.

The programme includes national statements, bilateral meetings and high-level discussions on energy transition, climate finance, resilient cities, industrial transformation and the protection of vulnerable communities.

Guterres calls for an end to fossil fuel dependence

UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the summit that the climate crisis was advancing faster than the measures taken by the international community.

Guterres said global emissions reached record levels in 2025, while the past four years were the hottest ever recorded. Existing national plans, he warned, remain insufficient to keep global warming within a safe limit.

The UN chief criticised the influence of fossil fuel companies and interest groups over public policy, saying fossil fuels should “go the way of the dinosaurs.”

“The dinosaurs did not have a lobby, but fossil fuels do,” Guterres said, accusing industry interests of distorting science and delaying policy, action and accountability.

According to Guterres, global carbon emissions must fall by about 6 percent every year. Current national plans, including conditional commitments, would deliver only around one-third of the reductions required.

“Our planet is heating up. The clock is winding down. It’s make or bake time,” he said, urging governments to move beyond statements and deliver measurable results.

Guterres also proposed taxing the windfall profits of fossil fuel companies and directing more financial support to countries that have contributed least to global warming but are suffering some of its most severe consequences.

Erdoğan presents Türkiye’s climate vision

President Erdoğan said Türkiye was proud to host a COP Leaders’ Summit for the first time and had designed the conference to reflect the cultural and environmental richness of Anatolia.

Erdoğan described the Earth as a trust that must be protected, saying respect for nature stands at the centre of Türkiye’s cultural and environmental approach.

He said the COP31 venue combines low-emission transport, Zero Waste practices, water and energy efficiency and carbon-balancing measures intended to reduce the environmental footprint of the conference.

The halls and meeting areas in the Blue and Green Zones have been named after prominent historical figures, elements of cultural heritage and natural landmarks associated with Anatolia.

Erdoğan said Türkiye had also prepared a broad programme ranging from exhibitions, panels and workshops to film screenings, outdoor activities and live performances.

He expressed hope that the conference would become a turning point in the international response to climate change, adding that Türkiye aims to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

Implementation and climate justice dominate the agenda

The summit is intended to move climate diplomacy from commitments toward implementation. Leaders are presenting their national priorities while discussing how climate targets can be financed, measured and delivered.

The COP31 Action Agenda includes Zero Waste, clean energy transition and electrification, food security, climate-resilient cities, green industrialisation, youth and education, oceans and seas, and resilient health systems.

High-level sessions are examining the acceleration of clean energy, investment opportunities created by green industry, the second decade of the Paris Agreement and access to climate finance for developing countries.

A Leaders’ Roundtable on Zero Waste, Circularity and Methane is among the summit’s principal special events. The session focuses on preventing waste, reducing methane emissions from organic materials and returning valuable resources to the economy.

Discussions on the summit’s second day will address urban resilience, climate adaptation, infrastructure and the financing required to prepare cities for extreme weather and other climate-related risks.

The International Energy Agency is participating as a strategic partner of the COP31 Presidency, particularly in discussions involving electrification, energy security, efficient buildings, clean cooking and resilient cities.

Erdoğan and Guterres plant an olive sapling

President Erdoğan and the UN Secretary-General planted an olive sapling at the Antalya Expo Center as part of the summit programme.

The event was organised in connection with Türkiye’s National Afforestation Day on November 11, when tree-planting activities were held simultaneously across the country’s 81 provinces.

COP31 President and Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum and Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı also attended the ceremony.

The olive sapling served as a symbolic message of peace, resilience and responsibility toward future generations, complementing the political and technical negotiations taking place inside the summit halls.

Blue and Green Zones serve different purposes

Türkiye is hosting COP31 across an area of approximately 1.1 million square metres. About 527,000 square metres have been allocated to the Blue Zone and 582,000 square metres to the Green Zone.

The Blue Zone operates under UN authority and hosts official negotiations involving heads of state and government, ministers, national delegations, UN agencies, accredited observers and media representatives.

It includes plenary halls, delegation offices, national pavilions, meeting rooms and media facilities. Access is restricted to accredited participants.

The Green Zone brings together businesses, universities, civil society organisations, young people, artists, local authorities and technology initiatives. It is designed to demonstrate how targets discussed in the Blue Zone can be transformed into practical projects and solutions.

Although generally open to registered members of the public, the Green Zone is closed to visitors on November 11 and 12 because of security arrangements for the Leaders’ Summit. It is expected to reopen after the high-level programme concludes.

Antalya introduces temporary local arrangements

Temporary security, transport and education measures have been introduced in Antalya during the Leaders’ Summit.

Schools in the districts of Aksu, Döşemealtı, Kepez, Konyaaltı, Manavgat, Muratpaşa and Serik are providing remote education on November 11 and 12 to reduce traffic and transport pressure.

Administrative leave does not cover every public employee in those districts. It applies only to personnel who meet conditions stated in the governor’s circular, including eligible female public employees with children attending preschool or primary school.

Security measures have also been increased along routes used by visiting delegations. Residents have been advised to avoid unnecessary journeys during peak periods and use alternative routes where possible.

Negotiations continue until November 20

The Antalya Leaders’ Summit is scheduled to conclude at 5 p.m. on November 12, but COP31 will continue until November 20 with the participation of ministers, diplomats, technical experts and national negotiating teams.

The leaders’ programme is expected to create political momentum, while negotiators will be responsible for converting speeches and national declarations into a final package of decisions.

Central questions include how quickly countries can reduce emissions, how the transition away from fossil fuels will be managed, and whether developing nations will obtain adequate and accessible climate finance.

The outcome will also test whether governments can move from broad international consensus to policies capable of protecting communities already experiencing extreme heat, drought, floods, fires and food insecurity.

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