The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) will take place from 9 to 20 November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye. The conference follows COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where governments advanced agreements on climate adaptation, finance and just transition. [1, 2]

As COP31 approaches, the central challenge is no longer simply defining climate ambitions. It is determining how existing commitments can be implemented, financed and measured.

Two major events have helped shape the discussion: Climate Week NYC, held from 20 to 27 September 2026, and the Pacific Pre-COP programme from 5 to 8 October, comprising meetings in Fiji and a leaders’ event in Tuvalu. [2, 3, 4]

Together, they highlight the importance of accelerating emissions reductions, expanding access to climate finance, strengthening resilience and translating national climate plans into practical action.

What Did COP30 Leave for COP31

COP30 established several important foundations for the next phase of international climate cooperation.

Its outcomes included a decision to develop a just transition mechanism, the adoption of the Belém Adaptation Indicators and a call for efforts to at least triple adaptation finance by 2035. [5, 6, 7]

The Baku to Belém Roadmap sets out pathways to scale up public and private climate finance for developing countries to at least USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035. This is a mobilization objective, rather than finance already delivered. [8, 9]

These developments established a framework for further action, but implementation remains an ongoing challenge.

The Belém Mission to 1.5, carried forward by successive COP presidencies, focuses on accelerating the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), alongside international cooperation and investment. [10, 11]

For COP31, a key question is how countries can translate these plans into measurable progress.

Climate Week NYC 2026 The Economic Case for Climate Action

Climate Week NYC 2026 brought together governments, businesses, investors and civil society to discuss the next stage of climate action.

According to the event organizer, Climate Group, the week included more than 1,500 events and attracted over 120,000 participants. [12, 13]

The official programme addressed energy and electrification, finance and clean growth, industry and supply chains, buildings and infrastructure, nature, and climate policy. [4, 13]

A central message emerging from the event was that climate action must move beyond demonstrating its economic rationale and toward implementation. [12, 13]

For businesses, this places attention on practical questions: How can clean technologies be deployed at scale? How can investment support industrial transformation? And how can companies demonstrate that their emissions reduction strategies are delivering results?

These questions connect directly with the implementation challenges facing governments ahead of COP31.

What Did the Pacific Pre-COP Achieve

The Pacific Pre-COP programme took place from 5 to 8 October 2026, with meetings in Fiji and a leaders’ event in Tuvalu, bringing climate vulnerability and resilience into focus. [2, 3]

The meetings emphasized three interconnected priorities: keeping the 1.5°C temperature goal within reach, improving access to climate finance and strengthening the role of oceans in international climate action. [2, 14]

The Taku Pakasoa Declaration, adopted on 6 October 2026, reinforced international cooperation, climate resilience, finance and ocean protection. [14, 15]

The discussions also addressed clean energy, electrification and the economic opportunities associated with the energy transition. [15, 16]

Importantly, Pre-COP meetings do not adopt formal COP decisions. Their purpose is to build political understanding and prepare the ground for negotiations.

The priorities identified in the Pacific provide political input to COP31; they do not predetermine the negotiated outcomes.

Five Key Issues to Watch at COP31

1. Implementing National Climate Commitments

Nationally Determined Contributions are central to the Paris Agreement.

The challenge is to turn national emissions reduction commitments into policies, investments and operational changes that deliver measurable results.

COP31 preparations have emphasized the implementation of NDCs and National Adaptation Plans, supported by stronger international cooperation. [2, 10]

Progress will depend not only on the ambition of national targets but also on the capacity to implement and monitor them.

2. Climate Finance and Investment

Climate finance remains a major priority, particularly for developing countries and climate-vulnerable communities.

COP30's finance outcomes and the Pacific Pre-COP discussions have kept attention on the availability, accessibility and delivery of financial support.

A key issue to watch at COP31 is how discussions on finance connect support for mitigation, adaptation and resilience with implementation.

The effectiveness of these efforts will depend on whether financial commitments can be connected to practical projects and measurable outcomes.

3. Clean Energy and Industrial Decarbonization

Energy transition and electrification were prominent themes at Climate Week NYC and the Pacific Pre-COP. [13, 16]

These discussions reflect the importance of transforming energy systems and industrial operations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For businesses, industrial decarbonization requires understanding emissions sources, evaluating energy use and monitoring the effects of operational improvements.

Reliable emissions inventories provide a foundation for assessing progress across reporting periods.

4. Adaptation and Climate Resilience

Climate adaptation has gained further attention following COP30's adoption of the Belém Adaptation Indicators. [5, 7]

The Pacific Pre-COP reinforced the urgency of responding to climate impacts, particularly for vulnerable island communities.

COP31 will provide another opportunity to advance work on adaptation implementation and finance.

Although emissions reduction and adaptation address different dimensions of climate action, both are essential components of a comprehensive climate strategy.

5. Transparency and Measurable Progress

International climate commitments depend on credible information about implementation.

For businesses, greenhouse gas accounting provides the basis for understanding direct emissions, energy-related indirect emissions and changes in emissions performance over time.

Consistent monitoring makes it possible to evaluate whether operational measures are contributing to emissions reduction.

Measurement alone does not deliver decarbonization. However, without reliable data, assessing progress and identifying priorities becomes considerably more difficult.

What COP31 Means for Businesses

COP31 is an international negotiation process, and its decisions do not automatically create new reporting obligations for every company.

Nevertheless, the implementation priorities being discussed are relevant to corporate climate management.

Companies seeking to strengthen their emissions management practices can focus on establishing reliable inventories, maintaining consistent activity data, identifying major emissions sources and monitoring performance across multiple years.

This provides a stronger basis for evaluating operational changes and communicating progress.

From Climate Policy to Carbon Management The Role of GHG Metric

As international climate discussions focus on implementation, businesses need reliable ways to understand and monitor their greenhouse gas emissions.

GHG Metric supports organizations in calculating and tracking Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions using operational activity data.

By maintaining emissions records across reporting years, businesses can examine changes in their carbon footprint and build a more consistent foundation for emissions management.

While international negotiations establish the direction of climate policy, progress within individual organizations begins with understanding emissions sources and measuring performance.

Looking Ahead to November

COP31 will be an important opportunity to assess how international climate cooperation can accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Climate Week NYC highlighted the economic and operational dimensions of climate action. The Pacific Pre-COP emphasized climate vulnerability, resilience, international cooperation and access to finance.

The next test will be whether negotiations can build on these discussions and produce outcomes that support practical implementation.

For businesses, the underlying principle is clear: climate commitments become more meaningful when they are supported by consistent measurement, informed decisions and demonstrable progress.

GHG Metric helps businesses take an essential first step: understanding and tracking their greenhouse gas emissions.