COP31 Dispatch

What Congress Needs to Know from Antalya

Welcome! Today is Thursday, November 12. COP31 is well underway.

COP31 kicked off on Monday, November 9, in Antalya, Türkiye, with the venue opening its doors to an estimated 92,934 in-person participants—the highest attendance in COP history. Familiar faces included former Vice President Al Gore, former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, and climate activist Greta Thunberg. An estimated 102 national representatives were in attendance for the World Leaders’ Summit on November 11 and 12. In that same window, U.S. subnationals descended on Antalya to show the world that climate action is still advancing in the U.S. (despite our departure from the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)).

Also in attendance were fossil fuel representatives, including at least 38 from the host country and at least 42 from Azerbaijan, which hosted COP29. The opening of this year’s conference was accompanied by peaceful protests, including residents from around the nearby lignite coal mines, who invited participants to witness firsthand the devastation of their communities. And notably, as the conference opened, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the opening of two new oil fields.

We hope you’ll join us next Thursday, November 19, for the second installment of EESI’s Rapid Readout briefing series on COP31. Key takeaways are now available for part one of that series, which featured Lynn Wagner of the International Institute for Sustainable Development. Our next Dispatch issue will be in your inbox the following day.

Missed the last edition? Check it out here. We are also tracking key announcements and U.S. officials in attendance at COP31—check back for updates.

You can find all EESI’s COP31 resources here. Getting lost in the COP lingo? Check out EESI's glossary of terms and other helpful guides in our Resources section! Looking for more information? Reach out to us at [email protected].

Key Takeaways for Congress

Draft texts have been released for 46 negotiation agenda items, with another 46 expected in the days ahead and 11 postponed. (Negotiations)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) was the first member of Congress to arrive in Antalya. A delegation of subnational leaders also arrived this week. (Congress at COP31) (U.S. Updates)
102 representatives of 95 countries gathered on November 11 and 12 for the annual World Leaders’ Summit. (Around the World)

Negotiations

COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago of Brazil (left) formally transfers power over to COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum of Türkiye (right). | Credit: UN Climate Change - Kiara Worth via Flickr.

A New Era: The unusual joint presidency officially began on Monday, when COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum kicked off the summit with a call for İmece, or the spirit of mutual aid inherent to Turkish culture and tradition. COP31 President of Negotiations Chris Bowen followed up by stating his intention to facilitate a party-driven COP31 decision that will suit the variety of national circumstances.

Negotiating Priorities: While the devil is in the details, there is overall broad support for embedding ocean action in the UNFCCC architecture, operationalizing the just transition mechanism adopted at COP30, and continuing the mitigation work program. As expected, one major point of contention is the implementation of Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which signals that developed countries shall provide financial resources to developing countries with respect to both mitigation and adaptation. Below is an overview of what various negotiating groups are focused on:
- Led by Ghana, the African Group of Negotiators seeks to prompt more funding under Article 9.1, set a baseline for the target to triple adaptation finance, and push for the replenishment of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
- AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States) is focused on minimizing overshoot past 1.5°C (2.7°F) and pushing for the replenishment of the fund for responding to loss and damage, established at COP27.
- Among those aiming to limit the extension and expansion of the mitigation work program is the Arab Group, which declared opposition to Switzerland’s proposal to establish a permanent mitigation committee. Other priorities include burden-sharing arrangements for developed countries under Article 9.1 and blocking unilateral trade measures like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
- BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India, and China) is aligned with the Arab Group in opposition to unilateral trade measures. It also wants to bolster the implementation of Article 9.1.
- The EU is committed to extending the mitigation work program and encouraging parties to complete any missing nationally determined contributions (NDCs). The group has also opposed a proposed mandate of annual reports on Article 9.1.
- Implementing adaptation is a key focus area for the G77 and China. The group also wants to operationalize the just transition work program and the goal to triple adaptation finance, and it is against fossil fuel subsidy reform under Article 2.1 (which covers global financial flows).
- Like AOSIS, LDCs (Least Developed Countries) are keeping the spotlight on minimizing overshoot and replenishing the fund for responding to loss and damage. On the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), they are urging that the adaptation indicators agreed upon at COP30 be refined in anticipation of COP32 in Ethiopia. They also hope for an extension of the mitigation work program and the implementation of a just transition mechanism.

Can We Get That in Writing? As of today, there are draft texts for 46 negotiation agenda items. With 103 total items on the agenda, and 11 items postponed or deferred, we can expect draft texts for another 46 items. The existing drafts are primarily related to gender and climate, response measures, and the GGA.

For additional updates on the negotiations, see the Earth Negotiations Bulletin’s comprehensive daily reports and quick highlights posted every day.
- EESI Briefing: What’s on the Table for the Negotiations?

Congress at COP31

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) posted on social media from COP31 after arriving in Antalya on November 12. | Credit: Sen. Whitehouse.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) via Instagram: “One, we have got to stop pollute-for-free as the fossil fuel industry’s business model. If we don’t, we will fail on climate. Two, economic collapse related to climate risk is on its way, and we need to point that out and make fiduciaries responsible for that. And three, there are real villains in the story here. The climate denial fraud operation of the fossil fuel industry and the dark money corruption operation of the fossil fuel industry, and those villains need to be highlighted in the story. Leaving them out is like telling the story of Little Red Riding Hood and leaving out the wolf.”
- EESI Briefing: Risky Business: Insurance in the Era of Climate Change

Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) via The Guardian: “We have a lot of rebuilding to do. It hinges on Congress to maintain diplomatic continuities at COP and minimize the damage until adults are back in the White House.”
- EESI Podcast: Rep. Sean Casten on How to Power a Clean and Affordable Future

U.S. Updates

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore (left) and former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (center) are greeted by UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell (right). | Credit: UN Climate Change - Kiara Worth via Flickr.

Mayors Reporting for Duty: At a press conference hosted by America Is All In, Climate Mayors, a bipartisan network of over 350 mayors, shared key findings from their recent Climate Mayors Economy report. Despite cutting fossil fuel spending by about $5.4 billion, the member cities found that their combined gross domestic product actually grew 11% since 2019. Climate and energy policies in these cities—which have increased from 60 policies in the 1990s to 1,700 now—saved households about $1,000 each in fossil fuel costs, and are projected to save households $38.4 billion over the next 10 years.

California Dreaming: California leaders are making a splash at COP31 this week. State Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris shared that in nine out of every 10 days, California’s grid is 100% powered by clean energy resources. On emissions, Petrie-Norris noted that the state was able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% over the last 20 years while growing its economy by more than 80%. Former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy added that California extended its Cap-and-Invest program to 2045. West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero pointed to federal, local, and private partnerships that paved the way for a joint climate action plan; an affordable rideshare program; bike and pedestrian infrastructure; and a multimillion dollar park with shaded athletic fields, native tree species, a pool, and a spray park. And Palo Alto has cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% so far, with the help of a citywide heat pump regulation and installation program and a public utility that exclusively sources from hydropower, wind, and solar energy.
- EESI Briefing: Next Stop: Sustainable Public Transit and Mobility
- EESI Article: “Heat Pumps Can Save Money: Pacific Northwest Islands Show the Way”

Climate Action? You Betcha: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz discussed the climate impacts he witnessed in his state in 2026, such as unprecedentedly early ice melt, devastating wildfires, and a climate-induced increase in invasive species that have threatened the agricultural sector. He also pointed to key actions Minnesota has taken to mitigate further harm. For example, the state is ahead of schedule to meet a mandate for electricity generation to be carbon-free by 2040. Minnesota has also become a pioneer in the production of sustainable aviation fuels, green fertilizer, and green steel.
- EESI Article Series: Sustainable Aviation Fuels
- EESI Briefing: Fertile Ground for Reform: A Research Roadmap for Agricultural Nitrogen Pollution

New Mexico Plays to Its Strengths: New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham listed key climate wins in her state, from the operation of the largest wind farm in North America to the expansion of battery storage and the commercialization of fusion energy. The governor also discussed the state’s methane law, which requires oil and gas producers to capture 98% of methane flares from their facilities. She noted that despite sharing an oil and gas basin with Texas, New Mexico had 50% fewer methane emissions.
- EESI Article: “Out-of-This-World Methane Detection: Using Satellites to Track Super Emitters”

Honorable Mentions: In Connecticut, the city of Bridgeport retired New England’s last remaining coal-fired power plant and remediated the area with housing, commercial development, and recreation—including a park that mitigates storm surge. New York State representatives highlighted more than $1 billion per year spent on reducing buildings’ associated greenhouse gas emissions, and a new goal to bring five gigawatts of nuclear power online. In Wisconsin, state-county-tribal partnerships are supporting a microgrid project that will help make the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and other rural residents more resilient to extreme weather and power outages.
- EESI Resource: Climate Solutions by State Map

Around the World

Opening ceremony of the World Leaders’ Summit. | Credit: IISD/ENB - Mike Muzurakis

World Leader Roll Call: At least 72 heads of state and 30 additional country representatives of 95 countries convened in Antalya on November 11 and 12 for the annual World Leaders’ Summit. In his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged an immediate transition away from fossil fuels, and called on developed countries to cough up finance for the developing countries experiencing the brunt of the consequences of climate inaction: “It’s make or bake time.” National leaders echoed his sentiments, demanding implementation over empty commitments, and several others expressed support for the Turkish Presidency’s 35 by 35 electrification pledge. Notably absent were the heads of state of the world’s top three polluters—China, the U.S. and India. Also absent were leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Heads of State(ment):
- Azerbaijan | Deputy Prime Minister Teymur Musayev: “We have made commitments. Now we must deliver them. We cannot continue calling for greater ambition while existing commitments remain unfulfilled. Doing so risks further eroding trust in the multilateral climate process. Our priority must therefore be implementation, particularly the full delivery of the Baku finance goal.”
- China | Vice President Han Zheng (on behalf of President Xi Jinping): “It is important to offer more support and assistance to developing countries and jointly build a clean and beautiful world. China continues to promote South-South cooperation projects in response to climate change, such as the Africa Solar Belt, and will roll out the Global South Climate Action Leadership Program. China will make its contributions to the fair and effective implementation of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation.”
- European Commission | President Ursula von der Leyen: “This summer was a summer of truth: devastating floods in Nepal, droughts from Sudan to Central America, and in Europe one of the worst wildfire seasons on record. At the same time … disruption of energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz are shaking global energy markets. The world is witnessing the cost of continuing with the status quo for our climate and for our energy security … So we must double down, and Europe will play its part.”
- Finland | President Alexander Stubb: “The 1.5°C goal is hanging by a thread. We already see the consequences in different parts of the globe. We've seen devastating floods in Nepal, rising sea levels in coastal and small island states, and of course wildfires in Europe and elsewhere. No country, regardless of size, power, or geography can shield itself from the consequences of climate change, and none of us can tackle it alone. I would like to see three priorities for this COP … multilateralism, science, and resilience.”
- Marshall Islands | President Hilda Heine: “Our Pacific scientists tell us the work can and should be completed on time. Science also tells us that fossil fuels are the root cause of the overshoot. Every new oil well drilled, every piece of coal extracted, is a threat to my country's future. The discovery of new fossil fuel resources is not something to celebrate, but something to fear.”
- Tanzania | President Samia Suluhu Hassan: “For Africa, energy justice means ensuring equitable access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy, while recognizing differences in national circumstances … Tanzania is implementing its national energy compact to expand electricity throughout the country and especially in rural areas. We therefore call for increased private-sector investment, affordable financing, and technology transfer to ensure meaningful benefits and sustainable development.”
- UK | Prime Minister Andy Burnham: “I spent my first three weeks as prime minister responding to the worst wildfires Britain has ever experienced. I decided then it was important for me to be here to show British leadership in a world where climate issues have taken too much of a backseat. The climate crisis is not a distant threat. It is upon us all now, devastating lives and livelihoods everywhere. Meanwhile, two wars across two continents have sent fuel prices and gas bills soaring for families and businesses across the world. The common thread running through all of this: our dependence on fossil fuels. We’re committed to meeting our 2050 net-zero target and committed to working with all of our partners to reach theirs.”

Revolutionary Road(map): At an event to more formally present the roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels (TAFF) initiated last year in Brazil, COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago highlighted the value of “two-tier” multilateralism to maintain the consensus-based model while uplifting the coalition of the willing in matters of implementation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that “there is no one-size-fits-all transition. Countries have different levels of dependence, different capacities, and different starting points. But all pathways must lead in the same direction.” Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry joined the event to commend the written agreement in Dubai to transition away from fossil fuels, but cautioned that “words in a COP decision don’t cut a single ton of emissions. Plans do. Investment does. Action wins the day… That’s why this roadmap is so important.” Omotenioye Majekodunmi, director-general of the National Council on Climate Change of Nigeria, described how developing countries might approach the roadmap. “This framework can help us identify where we can accelerate, where constraints remain, and where investment opportunities exist,” she explained. “Readiness should not be a barrier to investment, but a guide to where investment can unlock the greatest transformation.”
- EESI Fact Sheet: Proposals to Reduce Fossil Fuel Subsidies

TAFF Tally: So far, country roadmap submissions have been slow-going. Since the start of COP31, only Finland and the UK have submitted national TAFF roadmaps, joining France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden. More submissions are expected over the next week of COP, as well as in July 2027, at the second International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels.

Balance Sheet: On Tuesday, an international team of scientists comprising the Global Carbon Project released their 21st annual Global Carbon Budget (GCB). The GCB tracks the sources of carbon emissions and the quantity taken up by the land, sea, and atmosphere, and reflects the research of over 144 scientists. At a press conference announcing the launch, contributor Mike O’Sullivan of the University of Exeter reported that land-based carbon emissions decreased in 2026 due to reduced deforestation and increased reforestation. Corinne Le Quéré of the University of East Anglia identified a 0.4% decrease in atmospheric carbon in 2026 due to oil supply chain disruptions induced by the ongoing war in Iran.

High-Pressure Weather Data: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) held a press conference to present its State of the Climate Update for COP31, which offers a preview of the science that will be in the full State of the Climate report scheduled for release in March 2027. In his opening remarks, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell drew attention to the dangers of Super El Niño, the impacts of rising temperatures on health (including maternal health), and the importance of electrification. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo shared some findings from the update, including that the global average temperatures for January through September 2026 were 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels, and that the average for the whole year will likely be higher due to El Niño. “Heatwaves, tropical cyclones, and rainstorms are intensifying faster than our historical baselines prepared us for,” she said. Saulo also expressed hope regarding the adoption of multi-hazard early warning systems, which 136 countries reported having as of 2025.
- EESI Article: “Climate Data Is in Danger. Rebecca Lindsey and Climate.us Are Saving It.”
- EESI Briefing: Environmental and Economic Impacts of Super El Niño

More Reports and Announcements Keep Rolling In: EESI’s COP31 Announcement Tracker is the best way to keep up with program launches, reports, and announcements about all the topics under discussion in Antalya. Some recent updates include the launches of the the Antalya Initiative for Health Resilience, the Electrify Now Finance Coalition, the Global Carbon Market Network, the Global Power Grids Accelerator, the Least Developed Countries Green Industrialization Facilitation Mechanism, and the Türkiye Industrial Decarbonisation Investment Platform; and an update to the NewClimate Institute’s Climate Action Tracker that estimates 2.7°C of warming by 2100.

Resources

EESI Resources

Briefing: What's on the Table for the Negotiations? (November 5)
Rapid Readout series:
- Updates from Antalya Part 1 (November 10)
- Updates from Antalya Part 2 (November 19)
- Updates from Antalya Part 3 (November 24)
Climate Change Solutions: Bi-weekly newsletter covering climate, energy, and environmental issues
COP31 Announcement Tracker: Key Announcements from the 2026 UN Climate Summit
- Also, check out this article with updates on past COP announcements, or this article outlining Türkiye's priority issues
U.S. Leaders at COP31: Updates on Members of Congress and other U.S. Officials at the 2026 UN Climate Summit
EESI's United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Glossary of Terms

Tracking the Negotiations

Carbon Brief: Reporting and analysis on the UN climate talks, with in-depth tracking of country positions in the negotiations
COP31 Resource Hub: World Resources Institute's extensive set of resources on the climate negotiations
Earth Negotiations Bulletin: A play-by-play of the negotiations, plus expert analysis from the International Institute for Sustainable Development
ECO Newsletter: The climate advocate’s perspective from Climate Action Network International
C2ES Newsletter: Daily key takeaways from COP31 experts observing the negotiations
Nature Updates: Nature4Climate brings daily updates on all the nature-based solutions happenings at COP to your inbox

Background and Logistics

Türkiye COP31 presidency website: Priorities, details, and logistics for the negotiations from this year’s host country
UNFCCC COP31 website: Conference details and all updates on documents produced during the negotiations
Congressional Research Service: Reports related to the UNFCCC

Questions about COP31?

Reach out to us with your questions. We will get back to you or include the information in an upcoming newsletter.

Thanks for reading!

This newsletter covering COP31 will include editions on November 6, November 12, November 20, and November 23.
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Staff contributors: Daniel Bresette, Alison Davis, Parthav Easwar, Amaury Laporte, Nicole Pouy, and Hannah Wilson-Black

About EESI

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing science-based solutions for climate change, energy, and environmental challenges to achieve a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world. Founded on a bipartisan basis by members of Congress, EESI has been informing policymakers about the benefits of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental conservation since 1984.

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