Antalya: The COP31 climate summit, to be held this year under Trkiye’s presidency and hosting, could provide a key platform for advancing a phase-out of fossil fuels amid an ongoing energy crisis, Annika Markovic, the director of Engagement and Impact at the Stockholm Environment Institute, told Anadolu.

According to Anadolu Agency, the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place in November in the Mediterranean city of Antalya, under Trkiye’s presidency and hosting, in partnership with Australia. The summit’s agenda is expected to focus on the green transition in energy and moving climate action into the implementation phase.

Markovic assessed the state of COP negotiations and the potential contribution of the Trkiye-hosted meeting to climate action. She reflected on COP30, held in Belem, Brazil, noting that it was disappointing for many participants as it was expected to be an “implementation COP” but resulted in limited progress.

She highlighted the unresolved issue of phasing out fossil fuels at COP30 and pointed out the challenges posed by the current geopolitical context, making it harder to reach multilateral agreements. Despite this, the adoption of a final document at COP30 was considered an achievement.

Markovic emphasized the importance of the clean energy transition as highlighted in the COP31 agenda. She noted the support from International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol as a positive sign, given his long-standing advocacy for climate mitigation and adaptation.

With the world facing an energy crisis, Markovic stressed the urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuels to ensure energy security. She expressed concern that multiple ongoing crises could deprioritize climate issues on the global agenda, with politicians focusing more on geopolitical security questions.

Markovic expects the phase-out of fossil fuels to be a challenging issue at COP31, as some countries economically dependent on them may block progress. However, she emphasized the necessity for these countries to engage and diversify their economies.

She is optimistic about making progress on fossil fuel phase-out at COP31, despite the difficult decisions on climate finance and consensus-building. Markovic expressed faith in Trkiye and Australia’s ability to facilitate progress, emphasizing that even small steps forward are valuable.

Concluding her remarks, Markovic stated that COP31 would not only focus on energy but also continue the theme of implementation, showcasing efforts to advance the Paris Agreement.