Antalya, 13 November 2026
The EU continues pushing for accelerated global climate action at the COP31 UN Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Türkiye, as the first week of the UN Climate Change Conference is coming to an end. Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, will lead the EU negotiating team during the second week (16-20 November).
He will work together with the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the Member States to deliver on the agreed EU negotiating mandate for COP31. Progressing on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the clean energy transition, in particular through global electrification, are EU’s main priorities.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participated in the opening session of the Antalya Leaders’ Summit and the High-Level Segment for the Heads of State and Government on 11 November. In her intervention at the COP31 plenary, she reaffirmed that Europe will play its part by delivering on its climate commitments, accelerating electrification and strengthening global partnerships.
As part of the Commission’s participation, Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, attended the COP31 Energy Ministerial and several ministerial and high-level meetings on electrification, methane, energy efficiency and the transition away from fossil fuels this week.
On Friday, Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, presented new initiatives under the Pact for the Mediterranean to strengthen regional cooperation and mobilise sustainable investment on climate resilience in the region. Standing behind science, also today the Commission launched the first global alliance of public and multilateral research funders dedicated to accelerating coordinated, equitable and high-impact research on climate and health.
Next week, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis will take part in high-level events dedicated to the Ocean-Climate nexus and OceanEye International Alliance; and Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, will participate in high-level events on water resilience and the global plastics treaty.
In addition, in the 2026 EU Climate Action Progress Report released on 9 November, the Commission confirmed that EU net greenhouse emissions fell by 1.6% in 2025 compared to 2024. This shows the long-term declining trend of EU emissions, which are now 39% below 1990 levels, while the EU economy keeps growing by 74% over the same period.
You can find Commissioners’ calendars and EU programme at COP31 online.