As the final day of the COP31 climate talks in Antalya draws to a close, the majority of the more than 90 world leaders who had gathered over the past three days have begun to leave the city. Many are heading to the EU’s AI summit in Dublin, while a handful, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and UN Secretary‑General António Guterres, remain for a short while longer before departing later today.
With the departure of the “circus,” negotiators can now focus on the substantive work of the conference. A first draft of the final decision is expected soon, possibly today, though the weekend or Monday are more likely. Key issues on the agenda include the “overshoot” of 1.5°C, climate science, the transition away from fossil fuels, electrification targets, and finance. The current wishlist of priorities is available online for those who wish to review the details.
While COP31 is already making progress, the conference is also looking ahead to COP33. The next event is slated for Ethiopia in 2025, and the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change dictates that the following meeting should be held in Asia. However, the host country for COP33 has not yet been decided.
According to a Guardian report, China will not host COP33. Many experts had hoped that the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and second‑largest economy would take on the role, especially as China is undergoing a massive economic transformation. The country is shifting from coal and oil to renewable‑energy‑generated electricity, which has boosted its economy and now accounts for more than one‑tenth of its GDP.
India had also considered hosting COP33 but withdrew its proposal months ago. Other potential bidders include Uzbekistan, Thailand, South Korea, and Indonesia. A decision on the host is unlikely to be made at this COP, as countries will need more time to develop their bids.
Source: The Guardian World
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Editorial note: This is an original news report prepared from the attributed source material with AI assistance. It is not a reproduction or translation of the original article.
