U.S. Skips COP31 as Turkey Hosts Two-Week Climate Summit
Negotiations in Antalya focus on electrification targets and a fossil fuel phase-out treaty while the U.S. sends only individual lawmakers.
By Oliver Bennett ·
Country leaders gathered in Antalya, Turkey, on Sunday to begin the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP31. The two-week summit opens against the backdrop of a global energy crisis driven by the ongoing war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
The conflict has entered its ninth month, triggering the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and sharp increases in oil and natural gas prices. Kingsmill Bond, an analyst at the energy think tank Ember, noted that this shock differs from previous crises because affordable solutions now exist. He identified solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles as key technologies that provide economic security while reducing emissions.
A central goal of the conference is to raise the global electrification rate from approximately 23% to 35% by 2035. Bond described this target as the primary mantra for the summit. Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, stated that expanding green energy sources like solar and wind allows for faster decarbonization. Financial services firm Lazard reported that large solar and wind projects now offer more cost-competitive energy than natural gas and coal.
Negotiators are also working to establish a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels. Producers including Saudi Arabia and Russia have historically opposed including specific language on this issue in final agreements. More than 25 nations are currently developing a legally binding treaty to advance the phase-out. These countries hope to attract additional signatories during the Antalya session. The initiative follows an April conference where over 50 nations discussed strategies to transition away from oil, gas, and coal.
The United States State Department confirmed via email that the country will not send a formal delegation to COP31. This marks the second consecutive year the U.S. has skipped the main conference, following its absence from last year’s meeting in Brazil. The Trump administration has recently phased out subsidies for electric vehicles and renewable energy while reducing greenhouse gas regulations.
Despite the lack of an official delegation, several Democratic lawmakers are attending. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island plans to push for a carbon pricing mechanism. He argued that the fossil fuel industry cannot continue to pollute without cost if the world seeks a pathway to climate safety. Whitehouse joined other members of Congress who aim to keep fossil fuels at the center of the negotiations.
