BRAZIL · CLIMATE
Delegates in Antalya, Türkiye, wrapped up the first week of the UN climate summit with fights over money and fossil fuels still open. The summit, known as COP31 (the 31st annual UN climate conference), opened on Monday 9 November 2026 and is scheduled to end on Friday 20 November.
Brazil, which hosted last year’s COP30 summit, wants its plans for moving away from fossil fuels and halting deforestation to survive in the final text. For readers in the United States, the talks matter because Washington’s government is not taking part in the negotiations.
Key Facts
- Where Antalya, Türkiye, with Türkiye as host and Australia chairing the negotiations.
- When Opened Monday 9 November 2026; due to end Friday 20 November.
- Fight Money for poor countries and Brazil’s fossil fuel and forest roadmaps.
- United States Government not negotiating; a congressional group of 19 attends.
- Brazil Hosted last year’s summit and wants its roadmaps in the final text.
- Power Index Brazil ranks 1st of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 74.2 points (November 2026 edition).
The Agenda Fight That Opened the Summit
On Monday 9 November the African Group, a bloc of African countries, asked for a separate agenda item on tripling adaptation finance. Adaptation finance is money that helps poor countries cope with climate impacts.
The presidency left the item off, and there was no consensus. Murat Kurum, the COP31 president, said the topic can still be raised under other items.
The opening plenary also adopted a standalone climate finance work programme that developing countries wanted. The European Union objected, arguing that last year’s COP30 summit in Belém had not created a separate agenda item for it.
Brazil’s Roadmaps Divide Oil Producers
Brazil held the presidency at COP30, last year’s summit in Belém, and now wants that work recognised in the final decision. Its roadmaps are voluntary plans on moving away from fossil fuels and halting deforestation.
At the opening, the Arab Group, a bloc of Arab countries that includes Saudi Arabia, opposed references to those roadmaps in any decision. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed the leaders’ segment of the summit, which opened on Wednesday 11 November.
Washington on the Sidelines
The US government is not taking part in the negotiations, though a 19-member group of Democratic members of Congress led by Representative Sean Casten of Illinois is attending. Washington also stayed away from COP30 in Belém.
That leaves the rules and money for the next stage to be set without the world’s largest economy at the table. The benchmark remains the 2024 COP29 deal in Baku, under which developed countries lead on mobilising at least US$300 billion a year by 2035, with an aim of US$1.3 trillion a year from all sources.
What to Watch in Week Two
The summit is scheduled to close on Friday 20 November, according to the UN Climate Change secretariat, the body that runs the talks. A second dated checkpoint, such as the release of a formal draft of the overall decision, has not been confirmed.
The strongest objection so far to the new finance track comes from the European Union, which says COP30 did not create it. Developing countries answer that the programme tracks the promises already made.
What It Means for You
For readers with business interests in Brazilian forestry, ethanol or oil, the fate of the roadmaps shows where climate policy is heading. No final text exists yet, so none of this is settled.
The people most directly affected are climate-vulnerable countries waiting for adaptation money. Their negotiators now work toward the closing day.
What Is Not Known
We do not know whether a cover decision, the summit’s overall closing text, will be adopted. We could not confirm what youth groups or protesters asked for in week one.
We also could not confirm how large Brazil’s delegation is. Nor is the date of a formal draft of the overall decision confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is COP31?
COP31 is the 31st annual UN climate summit. It opened in Antalya, Türkiye, on Monday 9 November 2026.
Is the United States taking part?
The US government is not taking part in the negotiations. A 19-member group of members of Congress led by Representative Sean Casten is attending.
What does Brazil want?
Brazil wants its COP30 roadmaps on fossil fuels and deforestation recognised in the final decision. The Arab Group objected to references to them at the opening.
When does the summit end?
It is scheduled to end on Friday 20 November 2026. The date of a formal draft of the overall decision is not confirmed.
Sources: UN Climate Change secretariat, COP31 page, COP31 page, 14 November 2026; COP29 decision on the new collective quantified goal on climate finance, UN Climate Change, 2024.
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