- The COP31 climate conference has opened in Antalya, hosted by the UN.
- UN climate negotiator Simon Stiell warned that a global fossil fuel price crisis is spreading inflation like a cancer around the planet.
- Chris Bowen, Australia’s climate change minister, stated that the 1.5C Paris target will be overshot but emphasized that we can return if we act with urgency and solidarity.
- The high-ambition coalition, consisting of 20 countries, stressed that the 1.5C limit cannot be abandoned and called for accelerated finance for vulnerable regions.
- Jess Gasper from the Marshall Islands warned that the 1.5C limit is in serious danger and highlighted that it took eight years to secure finance for a single sea wall.
- Bowen proposed increasing electricity's share of final energy consumption from one-fifth to one-third over the next ten years.
- Stiell emphasized that the urgency of the moment must drive action, noting that global heating is already costing the Earth and vulnerable communities are bearing the burden.
- Bowen urged delegates to demonstrate that this generation is equal to the challenge and to rise to this moment together.
- Bowen noted there was enormous momentum for electrification, which is supported by Dr Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency (IEA) as an unmistakable signal to markets.
UN climate negotiator Simon Stiell opened COP31 in Antalya by highlighting the severe impact of high fossil fuel prices, stating they are spreading inflation 'like a cancer'. He noted that vulnerable communities are bearing the brunt of this crisis, which he termed 'fossil fuel cost chaos'.
Stiell emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, 'The urgency of this moment must drive us forward. Global heating is already costing the Earth.' He expressed frustration over the inequities faced by these communities, urging for immediate action to address climate change and finance adaptation efforts.
Australia's climate change minister, Chris Bowen, echoed Stiell's sentiments, stressing the need for urgency, solidarity, and resolve to meet the 1.5C Paris target. He called on delegates to demonstrate their commitment to future generations, stating, 'We can return … if we work together.'
The high-ambition coalition, comprising 20 countries, is advocating for significant progress at COP31, emphasizing that every fraction of a degree matters. Jess Gasper from the Marshall Islands highlighted the challenges of securing funding for climate adaptation, stating, 'I refuse to accept that we experience displacement because the world fails to act.'
Dr. Fatih Birol from the International Agency noted a growing appetite among governments for electrification, aiming to increase electricity's share of final energy consumption from one-fifth to one-third in the next decade, which could signal a shift towards renewable and nuclear energy sources.
“Stiell said global heating is 'already costing the Earth' and that frustration at a lack of fairness is palpable. He also noted that international finance for a single sea wall in the Marshall Islands took eight years, underscoring the adaptation gap.”
The Guardian
