World · Middle East · 9 hrs ago
COP31 is expected to launch a mechanism for a just transition
Countries agreed at COP30 to create the Belém-Antalya mechanism to support a just transition as economies move towards low-emissions energy.
The mechanism is expected to launch at COP31 in Antalya, Turkey.
A just transition means supporting workers and communities affected by the shift, including people linked to fossil-fuel industries.
The idea has been part of climate discussions for decades, and the 2015 Paris Agreement refers to decent work and quality jobs during the transition.
Countries disagree about what the mechanism should do, including whether it should focus mainly on workers at home or also support developing countries.
They also disagree about how the mechanism would be financed.
The details remain unclear, and COP31 is expected to bring further discussion of its purpose and design.
COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, is expected to launch the Belém-Antalya mechanism to support just transitions.
The mechanism was agreed at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, after years of calls from civil society.
Its proposed role is to support workers and communities as countries move towards low-emissions energy systems and away from fossil fuels.
The mechanism’s functions and purpose remain unclear, with developed and developing countries disagreeing about its design.
Financing was a key point of disagreement at UN climate talks in Bonn in June 2026.
- Who
- Countries negotiating the mechanism at UN climate talks. Civil society groups have called for support for just transitions.
- What
- COP31 is expected to launch the Belém-Antalya mechanism, intended to support just transitions.
- When
- COP31 is upcoming; the summit is expected to take place in 2026.
- Where
- Antalya, Turkey.
- Why
- To support workers and communities as countries shift to low-emissions energy systems and away from fossil fuels.
Developed countries
Some nations seeking a global outlook
Focus
Developed countries
Developed countries would like the just transition work programme to focus on domestic workforces.
Some nations seeking a global outlook
Some nations want a broader global outlook, including support for transitions in developing countries.
Mechanism’s role
Developed countries
Developed and developing countries disagree about the functions and purpose of the mechanism.
Some nations seeking a global outlook
Developed and developing countries disagree about the functions and purpose of the mechanism.
Financing
Developed countries
Countries disagreed over how the mechanism would be financed at talks in Bonn.
Some nations seeking a global outlook
Countries disagreed over how the mechanism would be financed at talks in Bonn.
The Paris Agreement included a commitment to take into account the imperatives of a just transition and the creation of decent work and quality jobs.
The COP24 presidency highlighted just transitions in the Silesia declaration, which was noted in the final COP text.
Parties agreed to launch a work programme on just transition.
Parties agreed to establish the Belém-Antalya mechanism.
Disagreements over the mechanism, including how it would be financed, continued at UN climate talks in Bonn.
The summit in Antalya is expected to launch the mechanism.
- Expected launch
- COP31, Antalya, Turkey
- Mechanism name
- Belém-Antalya mechanism (BAM)
- Agreed at
- COP30, Belém, Brazil
- Work programme established
- COP27
- Financing discussions
- UN climate talks in Bonn, June 2026
What people are saying
The inclusion in the Paris Agreement, with the reference to the creation of decent work and quality jobs was a milestone for the movement.
we continue to stress the labour dimension as being central to the concept.