What Is COP31? History of the Climate Summit and 2026 Agenda

Climate change has far-reaching global impacts, making international cooperation essential to developing effective solutions. This is where the Conference of the Parties (COP) plays an important role. Representatives of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meet to assess progress, negotiate climate action and shape international cooperation. But what is COP31?

COP31 is the 31st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, bringing countries together to advance international climate action. This important COP31 climate summit will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, in 2026, placing the destination at the centre of international climate discussions. Global travelers are expected to converge on the region for this. This is why it’s an important moment for Türkiye. 

What Is the COP (Conference of the Parties) and Why Is It Important?

COP stands for Conference of the Parties. Here, ‘Parties’ refers to the countries that are party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The first COP was held in Berlin in 1995. Since then, the Parties have met annually to assess progress, negotiate climate action and address the evolving challenges of climate change.

A significant moment for COP was in 2015 in Paris when the parties adopted the Paris Agreement at COP21. The Paris Agreement aims to keep the increase in global average temperature well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C.

So, in simple terms COP31 meaning is the 31st session of this annual international climate conference. Countries use these meetings to review progress made so far, negotiate agreements and discuss how plans can be put into action. COP31 is significant because it brings the Parties together to assess progress, negotiate priorities and advance collective climate action.

When and Where Will COP31 Take Place?

If you are wondering whether COP31 will be held in which country, the answer is Türkiye. The exact COP31 location is at Antalya EXPO Center in Aksu, Antalya and the COP31 date is 9 to 20 November 2026.

While Türkiye is the COP31 host country, Australia is working with Türkiye on the Presidency arrangements and will lead the negotiations as part of the agreed COP31 partnership. Belek COP31 may be important in searches because it is one of Antalya’s established resort destinations and a potential accommodation area for visitors. However, the conference venue is the Antalya EXPO Center in Aksu, rather than Belek. 

What Topics Are on the COP31 Agenda for 2026?

A central focus of COP31 is turning existing climate commitments into practical, measurable action. The COP31 Presidency has described the conference as an ‘Implementation COP’, with a strong emphasis on translating existing climate commitments into practical action and measurable progress. 

Some of the key areas of the meeting are:

• Clean Energy: Discussions will focus on accelerating the transition towards cleaner energy systems and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This includes accelerating the energy transition and supporting more sustainable industrial systems. 
• Climate Finance: Climate finance will remain an important part of the discussions, particularly in relation to supporting developing countries in climate action and resilience.
• Food and Agriculture: Climate change directly affects agriculture, food systems and water security. COP31 will place greater emphasis on resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems. 
• Cities and Infrastructure: Another focus will be on making buildings, infrastructure and communities more resilient to climate-related challenges. Discussions will explore how cities and communities can strengthen resilience to climate-related risks and extreme weather events.
• Nature and Climate: Protecting forests, land and other ecosystems is also an important part of climate action. Healthy ecosystems can help countries in dealing with some of the ill effects of climate change. Overall, COP31 climate summit aims to build on existing commitments while encouraging practical solutions and stronger implementation.

Why Is Hosting COP31 in Türkiye Important?

By hosting COP31, Türkiye will bring together government representatives, climate experts, businesses, international organisations and other stakeholders from around the world. As the COP31 host country, Türkiye plays a central role in the organisation and delivery of the conference. 

Murat Kurum, Türkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, serves as President-Designate of COP31. The conference places dialogue, consensus and practical action at the centre of its approach. 

The conference is also significant for Antalya, an established international tourism destination that will gain further global visibility through COP31. International visitors will also be able to discover Antalya beyond its beaches and resorts.

What Preparations Are Being Made for COP31 in Belek?

Although Belek is often associated with Belek COP31 due to its established resort infrastructure, the official conference venue for COP 31 location is Antalya EXPO Center in Aksu. Belek, however, is a prominent resort destination within Antalya and an accommodation option for visitors travelling to the region. Visitors can consider Belek’s established resort hotels such as Gloria Hotels & Resorts when planning their stay in Antalya during the conference period.

Preparations for an international event of this scale extend beyond the conference venue to areas such as accommodation, transport, security and health services. Transport arrangements between designated accommodation facilities and the conference venue will be organised as part of the event planning.

The process of COP31 application varies depending on the participant category. Government representatives, observer organisations and other eligible participants follow the registration and accreditation procedures established by the UNFCCC for their respective categories.

Belek therefore stands out as an accommodation and resort destination for COP31 visitors, while the official conference venue is Antalya EXPO Center in Aksu. With Türkiye being the COP31 2026 host country, Antalya is set to receive significant international attention during the conference period.