| The annual UN climate talks will soon kick off after a year defined by two compounding shocks: extreme heat and the unprecedented energy disruptions tied to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. These dual crises underscore why bolstering resilience and accelerating the energy transition are crucial to economic stability. WRI published a new article which lays out what’s at stake at COP31. This meeting—and future UN climate talks—will be less defined by negotiating grand new treaties, and more focused on countries coming together to overcome practical challenges to accelerate solutions on the ground. Türkiye and Australia have made the important, practical issue of electrification a centerpiece of COP31, rallying support behind targets to reach 35% electrification by 2035, supported by clean power, grid expansion and efficiency improvements. In Antalya, negotiators may decide to develop a just transition technical support hub, which could provide a way for countries and experts to share lessons and tools on what works. It’s fair to anticipate the usual tension over whether countries are making progress toward climate finance goals reached in Baku and Belém. Brazil and Azerbaijan will release a follow-up report to last year’s Roadmap to $1.3 Trillion, highlighting opportunities to deliver on those targets. And there is a major push by Pacific islands and Australia to make it much easier for least developed countries to have access to climate finance. |
