COP31 opens in Turkey with fossil fuel phase-out at centre

The 31st Conference of the Parties on climate, COP31, opens on Monday in Turkey, with the implementation of pledges to phase out fossil fuels as its central issue. World leaders will take turns at the podium before negotiators get into the detail of monitoring past commitments, according to Africanews.

Turkey, a co-organiser, is promoting a separate plan aimed at shifting a larger share of global energy consumption, transport included, to electricity produced from solar and wind power. Negotiators must also agree on the funds promised to poor countries to finance their transition to renewables, their adaptation to warming and reparations for climate damage. "There are always two relevant and difficult issues in climate negotiations: who produces emissions and how many, then who pays," said Niklas Höhne, co-founder of the German NewClimate Institute.

Scientists warn of accelerating warming, with the world having crossed the 1.5°C threshold, bringing extreme events such as heatwaves in Europe and floods in Nepal. The simultaneous use of fossil fuels and renewables, to meet demand from artificial intelligence and economic growth, complicates the fall in emissions. Russia's war in Ukraine since 2022 caused an energy shock in Europe, and US and Israeli strikes on Iran this year closed the Strait of Hormuz, sending fossil fuel prices soaring.

The United States, the largest historical polluter, skipped last year's COP and is not expected to take part this year.