The UN climate conference COP31 opens in Antalya, Türkiye, on 9 November and runs to 20 November 2026, according to the UNFCCC. Türkiye hosts the talks and shares the incoming presidency with Australia, and both say the focus is turning Paris Agreement commitments into implementation.
The details
The two countries work together under what the UNFCCC calls the Türkiye-Australia Partnership Modalities. A COP31 President Designate and a separate President of Negotiations write jointly to Parties, according to the Road to Antalya page.
- Pre-COP: a ministerial preparatory meeting was held in Nadi, Fiji, from 5 to 8 October 2026, convened by Australia with Pacific island nations, alongside a leaders gathering in Tuvalu.
- Consultations: on 14 October, Parties were asked which priority outcomes COP31 should deliver to speed up implementation, strengthen cooperation and keep 1.5°C within reach.
- Stated aim: “transformative and ambitious outcomes” built on implementation on the ground.
The talks open weeks after UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2026 found that current policies point to about 2.8°C of warming this century.
Why COP31 matters for impact organizations in MENA, Africa and Southeast Asia
An implementation COP is more relevant to practitioners than a target-setting one. Decisions on finance delivery and adaptation shape the funding calls NGOs and climate ventures will see in 2027.
- Climate finance: international public climate finance fell in 2024, as our summary of the Global Landscape of Climate Finance 2026 shows. Watch for any new commitments or delivery plans.
- Adaptation: with a Pacific-hosted pre-COP, vulnerability and resilience are likely to stay prominent, which matters for water-stressed MENA and climate-exposed Africa.
- Visibility: COPs remain a networking venue for funders. Organizations attending should arrive with evidence of results, not only project ideas.
What’s next
Confirmed: COP31 runs from 9 to 20 November 2026 in Antalya. Negotiated outcomes are typically agreed in the final days and published by the UNFCCC. Anything beyond the dates and the presidency’s stated priorities is still speculative as of 27 October.
FAQ
From 9 to 20 November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye.
Türkiye hosts the conference and shares the incoming presidency with Australia under the Türkiye-Australia Partnership Modalities.
In Nadi, Fiji, from 5 to 8 October 2026.
Implementation of the Paris Agreement, with the presidencies seeking outcomes that keep 1.5°C within reach.
