Climate activists have urged world leaders attending the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) to take urgent and concrete steps to address the climate crisis, warning that continued delays and unfulfilled commitments are putting communities and future generations at risk.
The calls have centred on reducing dependence on fossil fuels, increasing climate finance and ensuring that developing countries receive adequate support to transition to cleaner energy and adapt to the effects of global warming.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who arrived at the summit on Tuesday, criticised the annual climate negotiations, accusing governments of allowing powerful commercial interests to influence the process.
She urged political leaders to prioritise people and the planet over profits and geopolitical interests, warning that climate change threatens livelihoods, communities and the future of coming generations.
Thunberg also raised concerns about the influence of fossil fuel industry lobbyists at the negotiations, arguing that the interests of polluting industries continue to undermine meaningful climate action.
Her comments came as other environmental groups staged demonstrations around the summit venue in Antalya.
Activists from 350.org gathered outside the conference’s Blue Zone entrance, calling for a phase-out of coal, oil and natural gas and a fair, adequately funded transition to renewable energy.
They argued that developing countries should not be forced to take on additional debt to finance the transition, insisting that wealthier nations must provide their fair share of climate funding.
The demonstrators also called for universal access to affordable, clean electricity and stronger government commitments to move away from fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, more than 700 organisations from 88 countries have called on governments to establish the Belém-Antalya Mechanism for a Global Just Transition, a framework intended to translate earlier commitments into practical support for workers and communities affected by the shift to cleaner economies.
The coalition, coordinated through Climate Action Network International, said the mechanism should protect human and labour rights, promote decent employment and ensure that affected communities have a meaningful role in decisions about the transition.
It also called for technical and financial assistance to help countries implement their transition plans, particularly those in the Global South.
The demonstrations reflect wider concerns over the gap between climate commitments and implementation, especially as countries vulnerable to rising temperatures, extreme weather and other climate-related disasters continue to face difficulties accessing the resources needed to respond.
COP31 opened in Antalya on Nov. 9 and is being jointly hosted by Türkiye and Australia, with negotiations scheduled to continue until Nov. 20.
The conference is taking place against a backdrop of rising global temperatures, extreme weather events and disruptions to energy markets. United Nations officials have warned that progress towards limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels remains far too slow.
The summit’s presidency has also promoted a target to increase electricity’s share of global energy consumption to 35% by 2035, from about 23% currently. However, climate advocates have questioned whether electrification will deliver sufficient emissions reductions without a clear shift towards low-carbon energy sources.
As negotiations continue, activists are pressing governments to turn existing pledges into measurable action, arguing that stronger climate finance, faster emissions reductions and a fair transition to renewable energy are essential to protecting vulnerable communities.
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