From 9 to 20 November 2026, the UN climate summit COP31 will take place in Antalya, Turkey. The talks are scheduled at the Antalya Expo Center. Turkey is hosting the conference for the first time. According to TBMag, the COP31 president is Turkey’s Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum, and the vice-president for negotiations is Australian minister Chris Bowen. This is a compromise after a dispute over who would host.
More than 190 countries are expected in Antalya. Unfinished business from the Paris Agreement is on the table. TBMag recalls that the final COP30 agreement did not explicitly mention transitioning away from fossil fuels, and Turkey is criticised for its coal subsidies. The United States has scaled back its climate commitments.
The UK has no formal role at COP31, but it has been one of the leaders in green finance since COP26 in Glasgow and is a major investor in Turkish renewable energy. The UK’s export credit agency has signalled its readiness to support UK firms in Turkey’s green transition, and the two countries are negotiating a new trade agreement.
What it means for you
For Polish businesses in the UK working in construction, energy, transport or consultancy, COP31 is a signal that clients and banks will increasingly ask for climate data: carbon footprint, energy use, an emissions reduction plan. Those who have it ready will find it easier to win tenders or get credit.
Our assessment
We do not expect a breakthrough – divisions between countries are deep. For business, though, more important than declarations will be the concrete financing and reporting rules that will reach banks and large buyers after the summit. Small firms should start measuring emissions now, before their clients do it for them.
What to do
- Calculate your company’s basic carbon footprint – energy, fuel, transport.
- Check free tools and the Techies Go Green network on our website.
- Follow official information about the summit on the UNFCCCwebsite.
Source: TBMag (updated 21.05.2026).
We assess factual corrections and substantive responses. Verified changes are reflected in our reporting.
Contact the editorial desk →
