As disasters escalate, the next UN climate summit faces a test of trust

The devastation in Nepal reminds us of what is at stake.

Opening a high-level meeting at UN Headquarters, President of the General Assembly Khalilur Rahman conjures up images of walls of water cascading down mountain valleys, sweeping away people, homes and communities in their path.

“Scientists have long warned that such an event would become a reality, but none of us was prepared for such a shocking event”.

He reminded delegates that this year’s El Niño strengthening may be one of the strongest since at least 1950, while the world is heading for a temperature increase of 2.8°C above pre-industrial levels under current climate policies, far exceeding temperatures seen in pre-industrial times. Paris Agreementobjective.

“Behind these numbers are families forced to flee, children missing, schoolgirls walking further distances to get water, and communities facing losses they cannot bear.the assembly president added.

The task of world leaders at the upcoming COP31 climate conference will be to turn commitments into action – and promises into trust, he said.

“COP31 must be more than just another negotiating milestone. This should show that multilateralism is working.”

Starting from promises, to investments

Türkiye, which will host the conference from November 9 to 20, outlined plans to accelerate green energy, reduce methane emissions and strengthen climate resilience.

One of the main initiatives of this COP is the Climate Implementation Bridge, which was developed together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which aims to turn national climate commitments into investment-ready projects and link them to funding.

“The issue is not just the overall volume of funding. It is also whether funding is available, accessible, affordable and predictable,” said Turkey’s Ambassador to the UN, Ahmet Yıldız.

For Pacific island nations, the need for action is urgent.

Rising sea levels and extreme weather threaten housing, livelihoods and infrastructure, a reality highlighted by Australia, which is leading COP31 negotiations based on an unprecedented agreement that separates two countries thousands of miles apart, and shares responsibility at the climate summit.

“By listening to our most vulnerable communities, partnering with those in need, and accelerating the implementation of practical initiatives, I am confident we can restore trust through climate action,” said Australian Ambassador James Larsen.

Larsen called for more accessible climate finance and stronger adaptation plans based on science and local needs.

Tough negotiations ahead

Brazil, which hosted COP30 last year, identified three priorities for Antalya:

• Create a new one just a transition mechanism operational,
• improving the way countries measure progress in adaptation
• expand climate investment in developing countries struggling with debt

“In countries with severe fiscal constraints and high debt, [finance] talks need to produce viable solutions to expand fiscal space for climate investments,” urged Ambassador Sérgio França Danese.

The question of who pays and who benefits is also a concern for Ethiopia, which will host COP32.

Africa accounts for only about three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Ambassador Tesfaye Yilma Sabo reminded delegates, but Africa faces the most severe consequences of climate change.

“Delayed action will come at a huge cost to developing countries. The speed of this action is important because the gap between current plans and what the science requires remains very large.

“Funding and access to technology will increasingly determine who benefits from this transition and who is left behind,” he warned.

World leaders are expected to gather for a special summit in Antalya on November 11 and 12, with negotiations set to test whether climate commitments can produce meaningful change for the communities most at risk.

However, for Rahman, the measure of success is not only measured through the negotiation room.

“Let COP31 be judged not by the promises we repeat, but by the people we protect. That’s how we restore trust.”