COP31 in Antalya shifts focus to diplomacy as climate talks take back seat
Leaders at COP31 in Turkey are prioritizing bilateral diplomacy and geopolitical discussions over the primary climate agenda, with several major world leaders absent from the summit.
By Amir Navarro ·
The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP31, is currently underway in Antalya, Turkey, but the event is increasingly defined by high-level diplomatic maneuvers rather than environmental policy. Running from November 9 to November 20, the summit has become a critical venue for leaders to hold bilateral meetings and strengthen regional alliances. While the official agenda addresses global warming, many participants are using the gathering to discuss conflicts and geopolitical issues that have little direct connection to the climate.
The timing of the conference coincides with significant global tensions, including the war between the United States and Iran, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and ongoing conflicts across the Middle East. These developments have overshadowed the primary climate agenda, a situation that UN officials have noted with concern as they warn that the world is failing to make sufficient progress in addressing global warming.
Turkey has leveraged the event to position itself as a central hub for international diplomacy. According to the Anadolu Agency, 102 leaders representing 95 countries and seven international organizations are expected to attend. The delegation includes 37 heads of state, 35 heads of government, eight vice presidents, and numerous other senior officials. Representatives from 196 countries and the European Union are also participating in the broader conference.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used the summit to showcase Turkey's diplomatic influence. Images from the event show him posing for group photographs with visiting leaders and linking arms with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. These interactions illustrate how international summits have evolved into opportunities for informal diplomacy, particularly among leaders who maintain close bilateral relationships.
Syria has also used the conference to demonstrate its growing diplomatic engagement following the fall of the Assad regime. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa attended with his wife, Latifa al-Droubi, who met with Emine Erdogan. This encounter was described in Syrian coverage as having humanitarian and social dimensions, marking a significant step for Syria in re-entering regional and international diplomatic circles.
Iraq similarly utilized the conference for diplomatic outreach. The Iraqi president met with Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday. These meetings highlight the summit's importance as a venue for bilateral discussions, allowing Middle Eastern countries to work on upgrading their ties and showcasing stability amidst internal crises.
Iran has taken a more confrontational approach, using the platform to raise issues related to its conflicts with the United States and Israel. President Masoud Pezeshkian called for compensation for environmental damage allegedly caused by military strikes. He urged the global community to link climate commitments in peacetime with responsibility in wartime, aiming to document damages and develop compensation mechanisms.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticized the declining attention given to climate issues at major international gatherings. He noted that climate change had disappeared from the speeches and documents of leaders at G7 and G20 meetings, turning concern into silence. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the climate crisis is outrunning the world, criticizing the influence of fossil fuel companies and calling for stronger international action.
Several prominent leaders are absent from the summit, including US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. European leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are also not attending. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham appears to be the only G7 leader scheduled to address the summit.
The European Union's top climate official, Wopke Hoekstra, acknowledged that expectations for the conference are not necessarily high. Turkey has proposed a fair energy transition that recognizes the different development needs of individual countries, aiming to position itself as a bridge between developed and developing economies. Ultimately, COP31 is likely to be remembered more for the diplomatic conversations on its sidelines than for the climate commitments made inside the conference halls.
