REPORTSThe push to secure more climate funding for developing countries and disagreements over the future of fossil fuels are shaping negotiations at the COP31 United Nations climate summit in Antalya, Türkiye.
The summit, which runs from November 9 to 20, has brought together representatives of nearly 200 countries to discuss how to turn previous climate commitments into concrete action, with particular attention to financing, adaptation and support for vulnerable nations.
A major issue is the proposed increase in climate finance for developing countries to about $1.3tn annually by 2035.
The figure is based on a Brazil-led roadmap developed after COP30, which proposed mobilising between $1.27tn and $1.41tn from a range of sources, including levies on wealth, fossil fuels, financial transactions, cryptocurrency, aviation and shipping.
However, disagreements remain over how the funding should be raised, which countries and institutions should contribute, and how responsibility should be shared between developed and developing economies.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell has called for existing climate finance commitments to be fully delivered, as developing countries continue to demand greater support to address the effects of global warming.
The debate has also exposed divisions over the role of fossil fuels in the global energy transition.
At COP30, countries failed to agree on a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels following opposition from oil-producing nations and the Arab Group. The issue remains contentious at the current negotiations, with countries divided over the pace and terms of the transition.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged fossil fuel companies to contribute towards financing recovery from climate-related damage.
Stiell and the Turkish presidency have also linked electrification with efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and limit inflationary pressures associated with energy costs.
For Africa, the negotiations carry particular significance as the continent faces growing climate risks despite contributing relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions.
The African Group is seeking stronger commitments on adaptation finance, improved access to the Green Climate Fund and attention to the impact of climate policies on trade.
It is also pushing for a tripling of adaptation finance to help vulnerable countries strengthen their resilience against floods, droughts, extreme heat and other climate-related threats.
However, efforts to secure a standalone agenda item on tripling adaptation funding failed to achieve consensus, highlighting the difficulty of turning the continent’s demands into formal negotiating priorities.
Climate finance remains a major concern for African countries, many of which face high borrowing costs that limit their ability to invest in renewable energy, resilient infrastructure and climate adaptation.
The funding challenge is expected to remain central to preparations for COP32, scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, next year.
With negotiations entering their second week, attention is turning to whether countries can agree on a credible pathway towards the proposed $1.3tn annual climate finance target, stronger adaptation support and clearer commitments on the transition away from fossil fuels.
No final agreement had been reached on these issues at the time of reporting, leaving the outcome of COP31 dependent on the willingness of governments to bridge longstanding divisions over funding, responsibility and the pace of climate action.
Editorial note: The supplied summary does not include Nigeria-specific statements or comments from the Federal Ministry of Environment. I have therefore avoided attributing positions to the Nigerian government or local experts. Also, the requested quote-based headline cannot be produced accurately without a direct quotation.