COP31 opens amid energy crisis as activists demand climate action

The COP31 climate summit opened in Antalya, Turkey, on Monday, November 9, 2026, as world leaders gather to discuss measures against global heating amidst a backdrop of extreme weather events. Over the next two weeks, more than 100,000 people are expected at the Mediterranean city's expo center to negotiate electrification, methane reduction, and climate finance for developing countries. Turkey’s environment minister Murat Kurum emphasized Ankara’s initiative to make electricity account for 35% of global energy demand by 2035 while pushing its Zero Waste agenda. Activists outside the summit are demanding an end to greenwashing and a shift away from industrial agriculture, highlighting that every delay in climate action exacerbates existing crises.