UN Climate Summit COP31 Opens in Turkey Amid Low Expectations and Activist Criticism

The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) has commenced in Antalya, Turkey, with EU officials acknowledging low expectations for major breakthroughs but hoping for progress on clean electricity. Climate activist Greta Thunberg criticized the annual summit as hypocritical, arguing that political and economic systems are incompatible with human nature. The conference is taking place against a backdrop of global energy shocks and geopolitical tensions, including the US-Iran conflict, which has influenced oil prices and contributed to a projected slight decline in fossil fuel emissions.