World · Europe · 8 hrs ago
UN climate chief urges COP31 negotiators to move faster
At COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, UN climate chief Simon Stiell urged negotiators to move quickly toward an agreement as the summit enters its second week.
More than 200 countries are represented at the talks, which aim to limit global warming and address climate-related challenges.
Stiell said every country must compromise to reach a deal and warned against tactical delays.
Countries disagree over whether an agreement should set firm new targets or require a shift away from oil, gas and coal.
Turkey is promoting a plan to expand electrification, but it does not require the added electricity to come from renewable sources.
A UN report says the world is on course to pass 1.5 degrees of warming, a threshold linked to avoiding the worst effects of climate change.
Negotiators have until November 19 to seek agreement on issues including climate finance, methane and food security.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell urged COP31 negotiators to move quickly on difficult issues and avoid tactical delays.
The summit in Antalya, Turkey, is entering its second and final week, with delegates from more than 200 nations attending.
Countries are divided over whether an agreement should set firm new targets or require a shift away from fossil fuels.
Host Turkey is promoting a plan to expand electrification, but it does not require the added electricity to come from renewable sources.
Thousands of activists marched in Antalya calling for climate protection and human rights.
- Who
- UN climate chief Simon Stiell urged the negotiators. Delegates from more than 200 nations are attending.
- What
- Stiell called for faster progress towards a climate deal and urged parties to avoid tactical delays.
- When
- Saturday, November 14, 2026, as the summit entered its second and final week.
- Where
- COP31 in Antalya, Turkey.
- Why
- The negotiators face difficult issues, including disagreements over fossil fuels and pressure to reach an agreement.
Climate advocates seeking stronger action
Fossil fuel producers and consumers resisting firm targets
Fossil fuel commitments
Climate advocates seeking stronger action
Climate advocates say an ambitious agreement and a faster transition away from fossil fuels are needed to address global warming.
Fossil fuel producers and consumers resisting firm targets
Big fossil fuel producers and consumers are resisting a deal specifying firm new targets or a shift away from oil, gas and coal.
Turkey's electrification proposal
Climate advocates seeking stronger action
Some observers and delegations want increased electricity use to come from renewable sources and want countries to map out a transition away from fossil fuels.
Fossil fuel producers and consumers resisting firm targets
Turkey is promoting expanded electrification as a way to speed emissions cuts, but its proposal does not require electricity to come from renewable sources.
A UN report found that the world was on course to exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold.
Stiell urged negotiators to move quickly as COP31 entered its second and final week.
Thousands of protesters marched through Antalya for climate protection and human rights, according to organizers.
COP31 is scheduled to end.
- Summit location
- Antalya, Turkey
- Participating nations
- More than 200
- UN climate chief
- Simon Stiell
- Summit end date
- November 19, 2026
- Protest turnout
- Tens of thousands, according to organizers
3 sources
What people are saying
As we head into the second week, I urge parties to move swiftly to the hardest issues and to avoid tactical delays.
There is no collective success without compromise from every party.
The pursuit of profit at all costs continues to set the [global] agenda [and] govern the trajectory of our world, so there is a need to push back.
We won't have a chance to solve any of the crises as long as our planet is destabilizing by the hour.