World Climate Conference in Antalya: First day, first conflict

Huge crowds at COP31 in Antalya: In the morning, many have to wait in long lines just to get in. Delegates from around 190 countries are coming to the summit, around 80,000 people are expected. It could be the second largest COP ever.

At the start of the climate conference, Simon Stiell, Secretary General of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat, chose clear words:

Suggestion: an electrification target

An idea that dominated the discussions at the COP on the first day was put forward in advance by the Turkish presidency: an electrification goal. By 2035, 35 percent of energy consumption in industry and households worldwide should come from electricity - generated from renewable sources if possible.

Christoph Bals from the climate NGO Germanwatch sees the initiative as positive: "If it were possible to bring electrification from the current level to 35 percent by 2035 - that would reduce emissions globally by around 40 percent in the areas of industry, buildings and transport," he says. “So that would be a huge step.”

Because of the Iran war and the associated oil and gas crisis, more countries wanted to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, says Bals. Political tailwind for an electrification goal appears to be present at the COP.

"That you talk about everything and nothing"

But on the first day there is also the first conflict. Two years ago, the industrialized countries promised poorer countries that they would triple their financial support for adapting to climate change, but remained vague about the specific amounts. African countries in particular wanted to put the issue of climate finance centrally on the agenda. According to ARD information, industrialized countries, including the EU, wanted to prevent this.

After some argument, a compromise was reached: climate finance will not be a separate topic, but should be considered in all other negotiations. So the first big argument has been put to rest for now.

Sabine Minninger from Bread for the World is skeptical:

Tensions over climate finance could arise again and again in the next two weeks at COP31 in Antalya - and perhaps also block progress on electrification.