Global climate action accessible climate finance and stronger adaptation measures are expected to dominate discussions at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) scheduled to take place in Antalya, Turkiye from November 9 to 20, 2026.
Following COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the focus is shifting from setting climate targets to implementing existing commitments under the Paris Agreement. However, insufficient emissions reductions, barriers to climate finance and growing climate risks continue to challenge international efforts.
COP31 will be an important test of whether countries can turn political commitments into practical measures that protect communities, ecosystems and economies. Five major expectations are shaping the agenda.
1. Climate finance and Pacific priorities
Climate vulnerable nations are calling for faster emissions reductions improved access to climate finance and stronger protection of ocean ecosystems.
During pre COP discussions in Fiji and Tuvalu representatives from around 30 countries supported the Taku Pakasoa Declaration, highlighting the priorities of countries particularly exposed to climate change.
A central challenge will be implementing the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance, adopted at COP29. Beyond increasing financial commitments, countries need to address obstacles that prevent vulnerable nations from accessing funding, including complicated application procedures, limited institutional capacity and insufficient grant based support.
COP31 is expected to test whether international commitments can deliver predictable, accessible and effective financial assistance, particularly for adaptation in countries facing the greatest climate risks.
2. Turning climate commitments into practical action
The COP31 presidency is advancing an Action Agenda designed to accelerate implementation of climate commitments through partnerships, investment and practical projects.
Building on the Global Climate Action Agenda launched at COP30 the initiative identifies ten priority themes. These include clean energy transitions, climate resilient cities, green industrial development, food security, ocean protection and resilient health systems.
Electrification is among the central priorities, with the aim of reducing emissions while improving energy security and affordability. Other areas of focus include preparing cities for extreme heat, strengthening infrastructure, promoting sustainable housing, reducing methane emissions and waste, and supporting climate resilient agriculture.
The proposed Climate Implementation Bridge is intended to help countries translate their national climate and development priorities into projects capable of attracting investment and financial support.
A key question for COP31 will be whether these initiatives generate meaningful partnerships and funding while complementing formal negotiations and accelerating action beyond the conference.
3. International cooperation faces political challenges
COP31 will take place amid a changing global political landscape with national elections and a forthcoming United Nations leadership transition potentially influencing climate priorities and international cooperation.
UN Secretary General António Guterres is due to conclude his second term in 2026. His successor will inherit the responsibility of sustaining momentum on climate action and supporting cooperation among countries.
The conference offers an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of multilateral cooperation in implementing the Paris Agreement. Even when global progress is uneven, countries can work together through targeted coalitions to advance shared goals.
One longstanding challenge is the transition away from fossil fuels. Countries could demonstrate leadership by developing and implementing phase out roadmaps potentially supporting emissions reductions while capturing economic opportunities associated with early decarbonisation.
4. Climate overshoot raises long term risks
The possibility of global warming temporarily exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels is becoming an increasingly important concern as current national climate commitments remain insufficient to meet that threshold.
Scientific assessments indicate that returning temperatures below 1.5°C after an overshoot would require sustained emissions reductions and the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, lowering global temperatures would not necessarily reverse all the damage caused during a period of higher warming.
The consequences could affect ecosystems, livelihoods, human health and security, with vulnerable communities likely to face disproportionate risks. Adaptation requirements would also continue to change, even if temperatures eventually decline.
COP31 is expected to highlight the need to connect emissions reduction efforts with adaptation planning and climate finance. Governments will need to address changing climate risks, the limits of adaptation and the long term support required by communities facing increasingly severe impacts.
Decisions taken now will influence not only future global temperatures but also the ability of communities to prepare for, withstand and recover from climate related disasters.
5. Strengthening adaptation and preparing for COP32
COP31 will also begin the next phase of global accountability under the Paris Agreement through the second Global Stocktake known as GST2. The process is intended to assess collective progress and help guide the next stage of climate implementation.
While the first Global Stocktake highlighted gaps between existing commitments and the action required, the next must focus on delivering tangible results.
Adaptation is expected to be a particularly important issue following difficult negotiations at the June Climate Meetings in Bonn, where countries failed to reach agreement on the Global Goal on Adaptation.
Outstanding questions include how to advance the 59 adaptation indicators adopted at COP30 and how to deliver on the commitment to at least triple adaptation finance for developing countries by 2035.
The conference will also provide an opportunity to prepare for COP32 which is expected to take place in Africa. Agriculture and food security are likely to feature prominently, as climate change increasingly affects crop production, water availability and rural livelihoods.
Developing climate resilient food and agricultural systems will be essential to protecting communities and supporting sustainable development.
COP31 therefore presents an opportunity to resolve outstanding adaptation issues, strengthen international cooperation and establish a clearer path from climate commitments to implementation. Its outcomes will help determine whether countries can deliver stronger resilience and more effective support for populations most exposed to climate change.