The key actors involved in COP31 include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which organizes the annual summit, and the host nation, Turkey, represented by President-designate Murat Kurum. Australia plays a unique role as the President of Negotiations, working in a dual-presidency arrangement with Turkey. Other participants include government delegations from nearly 200 countries, international financial institutions, multilateral development banks, and various non-governmental organizations, scientists, and business leaders.

COP31 is the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC. The primary objective of this year's summit is to shift the focus from negotiating new headline pledges to the implementation of existing national climate plans. Key agenda items include climate finance, adaptation and resilience, the mitigation work program, and the transition away from fossil fuels. A significant new initiative is the Antalya Artificial Intelligence Pledge, a voluntary commitment to use AI to address environmental impacts. Additionally, food security has been elevated to a priority area for the first time in recent summits.

The summit is being held at the Antalya Expo Center in Antalya, Turkey. The conference spans from November 9 to November 20, 2026, with the high-level World Leaders’ Summit scheduled for November 11 and 12.

The conference officially begins on November 9, 2026, and concludes on November 20, 2026. The World Leaders’ Summit takes place on November 11 and 12. Parties are encouraged to submit outstanding nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and biennial transparency reports (BTRs) as soon as possible, with a deadline for second BTRs set for December 31, 2026.

The summit is motivated by the urgent need to address the gap between current climate pledges and the emissions reductions required to meet the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement. With global temperatures still rising and the increasing frequency of wildfires, floods, and droughts, there is significant pressure on negotiators to deliver concrete, measurable progress. The dual-presidency structure is intended to balance the logistical hosting duties with the complex procedural negotiations, aiming to bring consensus to a crowded and contentious agenda.

The process is consensus-based, requiring agreement among nearly 200 parties. Australia is leading negotiations on approximately 60 mandated decisions and over 100 agenda items. The summit utilizes a combination of formal negotiating tracks and voluntary 'Action Agendas' to encourage cooperation. Financial mechanisms, including the Loss and Damage Fund and support from multilateral development banks, are central to the discussions on how to bridge the multi-trillion-dollar adaptation finance gap. The summit also relies on the submission of NDCs and BTRs as the primary instruments for tracking national progress and accountability.

COP31 represents a critical test of the international community's ability to move from rhetoric to implementation. The success of this summit will determine whether the global climate regime remains a viable mechanism for coordinating environmental action or if it will continue to lose relevance as nations prioritize domestic interests over collective goals.

Following the summit, nations will be expected to integrate the outcomes into their domestic policies and meet the December 31, 2026, deadline for biennial transparency reports. The effectiveness of the Antalya AI Pledge and the progress on food security will be monitored in the lead-up to COP32.

Key Unknowns

It remains unclear whether the dual-presidency arrangement will successfully navigate the procedural complexities or if it will lead to confusion and delays. Furthermore, the level of financial commitment from developed nations to the Loss and Damage Fund and adaptation finance remains a significant point of contention that could derail the summit.

Watch for the outcomes of the World Leaders’ Summit on November 11-12, as these will set the tone for the remainder of the negotiations. Additionally, monitor the status of the nearly 50 countries that have yet to submit updated NDCs, as their participation will be a key indicator of the summit's success.