Kurum Launches COP31 Action Agenda Amid Fossil Fuel Price Spikes

Turkey’s Environment Minister Murat Kurum opened the United Nations climate summit on Monday with a directive to focus on implementation rather than new targets. The two-week conference, designated as COP31, takes place in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya against the backdrop of a global energy market strained by the war in Iran. That conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, driving up the prices of gasoline, oil, and derived products like fertilizers and pesticides.

The disruption has forced governments to reassess energy policies and increase investment in wind and solar power. Kurum, serving as the COP31 president, stated that the summit must turn previous commitments into tangible action. He launched an Action Agenda that includes reducing methane emissions and building climate-resilient cities. A key economic target in this agenda is to raise the share of electricity usage from 21 percent to 35 percent by 2035, with a preference for renewable sources.

U.N. climate chief Simon Stiell emphasized the need for practical solutions during the opening session. He described measures such as reducing methane as planetary icepacks, noting that while methane stays in the atmosphere briefly, it warms the planet faster than other gases. An estimated 68,500 people are attending the event, supported by nearly 25,000 staff members ensuring operations run smoothly.

Delegates face pressure to address the likelihood that global warming will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. This threshold was established in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Kurum acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, stating that this is the first conference where it is clear beyond reasonable doubt that the world will overshoot the target. He argued that the focus must remain on sharing responsibility rather than looking away.

Negotiations began immediately in backrooms as representatives from nearly 200 countries addressed financing disputes. Developing nations are seeking clarity on how wealthy countries will fund adaptation to rising temperatures and extreme weather. Meena Raman of the Third World Network argued that countries responsible for the least emissions should not have to borrow heavily to manage the crisis. Iskander Erzini Vernoit, an advisor to African negotiators, noted that proposals from the 54-country African Group have been backed by many developing nations but contested by the European Union and Canada.

The United States, the world’s second-largest polluter after China, is absent from the talks. President Donald Trump withdrew the country from climate negotiations during his first term and again upon taking office for a second term in January 2025. Stiell said that while no single summit can stop climate change overnight, recent conferences have made essential progress.

This event marks a logistical shift as Turkey and Australia jointly host the summit. The arrangement resolved a dispute over the hosting role, with Turkey serving as the official host and Australia leading negotiations. Both nations face criticism for their reliance on coal. The next phase of discussions will run through Nov. 20, with delegates continuing to work on financing mechanisms and implementation strategies.