The COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Turkey, has commenced under a cloud of urgency, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres implored world leaders to move past empty promises and address the escalating climate crisis. Following a year marked by brutal heatwaves, catastrophic flooding, and rampant wildfires—exacerbated by a powerful El Nino—Guterres warned that the world has entered a new era of extreme weather. He emphasized that the time for delay has passed, calling for a swift transition away from fossil fuels, aggressive emission cuts, and a significant increase in financial support for nations most vulnerable to climate-driven disasters.

However, the event faced an immediate hurdle as negotiations stalled over the critical issue of climate finance. Developing nations, frustrated by the slow pace of promised support from wealthier, historically high-emitting countries, spent the pre-conference period locked in intense debates over agenda items. While a compromise was reached to include a finance work programme, underlying geopolitical tensions and conflicting priorities remain. With global temperatures trending toward a dangerous breach of the 1.5ºC threshold and major players like the US under the current administration showing skepticism, experts remain cautious about the prospect of significant breakthroughs at this year’s "implementation-focused" summit.