Turkish Environment Minister; COP31 President
Pacific nations and allies press for urgent action on climate finance, ocean health, and keeping 1.5°C within reach ahead of COP31 in Turkey. Pre-COP meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu highlight vulnerability to sea-level rise and demand concrete, community-level finance and adaptation.
Istanbul has faced record rainfall with authorities confirming multiple flood-related deaths. Officials say thousands are being evacuated and more rain is expected over the weekend, prompting continued emergency response and school closures.
The floods in Istanbul have worsened, with multiple deaths and thousands evacuated. Rainfall has reached record levels since 1942, causing widespread damage and flight disruptions. Authorities warn of ongoing danger as the weekend forecast remains unsettled.
Turkey unveils a $500 billion energy plan ahead of COP31, aiming to electrify its economy by 2040 and cut coal reliance, while keeping security of supply. The plan foresees a quadrupling of wind/solar and a shift toward nuclear, with steep investment and questions about a timely coal exit.
Leaders gather as COP31 opens under pressure to translate past climate pledges into action. Delegates face financing for poorer nations, energy transition plans, and a shift toward renewables, while geopolitical tensions and energy shocks test commitments.
Prime minister Andy Burnham has appointed Dame Madeleine Alessandri as a special representative on climate security and will announce the post at COP31 in Antalya today. The role will task Alessandri with advising the government on national security risks from the climate crisis; Burnham will also back a 35% electrification target for 2035 and mobilise private finance for clean energy.
COP31 in Antalya is accelerating a push for electrification to 35% of global energy demand by 2035, with debates over whether electrification alone lowers emissions and how AI and renewables factor in. A new El Niño is intensifying extreme weather, underscoring the urgency for action.