Heads of state and delegates gather in Antalya, Turkey, for United Nations climate talks amid low expectations. Soaring energy prices and artificial intelligence concerns have pushed climate change into the background. The spirit of global cooperation from landmark climate goals now seems a thing of the past.
President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement has created a leadership vacuum, leaving nations in a stalemate. Choi Hanchang, a lead negotiator from South Korea, stated the main goals were simply "survival and relevance." The international climate process has narrowed, with this year's talks focusing on middle ground for multilateralism's survival. More than a decade after the Paris accord, groundbreaking decisions are not expected.
Greenhouse gas emissions are at a record high, and the planet is blowing past global warming limits. Relentless summer heat in Europe killed an estimated 50,000 people. A Himalayan glacier collapse left thousands dead or missing and saddled Nepal with a $5 billion recovery bill.
A record El Niño is stoking wildfires in Indonesia and raising global temperatures. The Strait of Hormuz's effective closure sent oil and gas prices skyrocketing. U.N. officials argue renewable energy represents a hedge against such volatility. While climate rhetoric has chilled, clean energy investment remains hot.
The summit opens after Democratic victories in U.S. midterms wounded Trump's political power. Turkey expects 91 heads of state, down from 156 in 2023. Notable absences include Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, President Vladimir V.
Putin of Russia, and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan. Britain's Andy Burnham is poised to be the lone Group of 7 leader to attend. China, the world's largest polluter, will be represented by Vice President Han Zheng.
Negotiators will likely clash over fossil fuels, with oil-producing countries objecting to prioritizing the issue. Ali Mohamed, Kenya's climate envoy, says they haven't even been able to repeat the same words from 2023.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing