World leaders gathered in Antalya, Türkiye, on Wednesday for the start of the two-day Leaders’ Summit at COP31, the United Nations climate conference running from November 9 to 20. The UAE is represented by a high-level delegation led by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and Supreme Council member, on behalf of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.
The summit, held on November 11 and 12, is focused on turning existing climate pledges into action, with finance, resilience and electrification high on the agenda, according to reports from the conference.
Who is representing the UAE
The National reported that Sheikh Saud was received at Antalya Airport by Saeed Thani Al Dhaheri, the UAE ambassador to Türkiye, and senior Turkish officials. The delegation also includes Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture; Khalifa Al Marar, Minister of State; and Dr Amna Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment.
The UAE hosted COP28 in Dubai in 2023. That conference produced the UAE Consensus, which called for a transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems and set goals to triple global renewable energy capacity and double the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. COP28 also launched the Fund for Loss and Damage.
What the UN chief told leaders
UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the summit with a warning about the pace of change. “The brutal truth is that the climate crisis is outrunning us,” he said, according to the official UN transcript.
Guterres said global emissions reached record highs in 2025 and that the past four years were the hottest on record. He also pointed to progress in clean energy, saying solar power alone met nearly three-quarters of the growth in global electricity demand last year.
He proposed what he called a Climate Justice Compact, built on four pillars: a faster and fair transition away from fossil fuels, stronger protection for vulnerable people, adequate climate finance, and greater international cooperation. On finance, he called for at least $300 billion a year from developed countries by 2035 and urged governments to tax the windfall profits of major oil companies. Guterres also announced that he will leave the Secretary-General post next year.
Host nation’s priorities
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country is co-hosting the talks with Australia, called for climate finance that is more accessible and predictable. He said developed nations “must assume greater responsibility”, according to People’s Daily, and described the needs of Pacific Island states as a key priority.
Al Jazeera reported that Türkiye is championing a voluntary initiative to speed up the electrification of transport, buildings and industry, with a goal of raising electricity’s share of global energy use to 35 per cent by 2035. The European Union has said electrification must be “clean”, Al Jazeera added.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said international cooperation was unlocking clean energy investment and that no country should be left behind in the transition, People’s Daily reported.
Who is attending
Leaders attending the summit included Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to Al Jazeera. Several G7 leaders are not attending, and the United States has not taken part in the talks for a second year, the broadcaster said.
Quick facts
- Event: COP31, the 31st UN Climate Change Conference
- Venue: Antalya, Türkiye, co-hosted with Australia
- Dates: November 9 to 20; Leaders’ Summit on November 11 and 12
- UAE delegation head: Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah
- Key themes: climate finance, adaptation, electrification and implementation of past pledges
Negotiators will continue talks for more than a week after the leaders depart. For background on the conference and what was on the table before it opened, see our earlier guide, COP31 in Antalya: what to know.
Sources: UNFCCC, The National, Al Jazeera, People’s Daily
