As COP31 Antalya kicks off, can world move beyond big promises?

The COP31 climate summit opens in Antalya, Turkey, with delegates under pressure to turn years of promises into practical action as climate-related disasters intensify. The talks will focus again on moving away from coal, oil and gas, but reaching unanimous agreement among nearly every country remains difficult.

Carbon emissions are still rising, and the UN says limiting warming to 1.5°C is no longer possible. If countries fully meet their current commitments, projections put warming at up to 2.6°C, down from an earlier path of 3°C to 3.5°C. Climate expert David Victor argues that smaller partnerships between governments and businesses may deliver more progress, pointing to a recent fossil-fuel transition conference attended by representatives from 57 countries.