COP31 live coverage starts on Monday, November 9, when the United Nations climate conference opens in Antalya, Türkiye. The talks run until November 20, and a leaders’ summit on November 11–12 is expected to bring dozens of presidents and prime ministers to the Mediterranean coast. Here is what is on the table, when the big moments happen, and how to follow them from the US or Europe.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- COP31 runs from November 9 to 20, 2026, in Antalya, Türkiye, according to the UN climate secretariat (UNFCCC).
- The World Leaders Climate Action Summit is set for November 11–12, per the official COP31 programme.
- Reuters reported on October 30 that 77 heads of state and government had confirmed they will attend.
What is COP31?
COP31 is the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the 1992 treaty behind the Paris Agreement. These yearly meetings are the only forum where nearly every government sits down to agree on climate action, the UNFCCC says.
This year’s meeting has an unusual setup. Türkiye hosts the event, and its environment minister, Murat Kurum, is COP31 President. Australia’s climate minister, Chris Bowen, holds the separate title of President of Negotiations. AFP described the shared model as without precedent at UN climate summits.
When is COP31 live, in your time zone?
The conference opens on November 9 and closes on November 20, though COP talks often run past their scheduled finish. Antalya is on GMT+3 all year. So a session at noon in Antalya airs at 9 a.m. in London, 10 a.m. in Paris or Berlin, and 4 a.m. in New York.
The organizers have not yet published exact session times. Instead, the COP31 website says the detailed daily schedule will appear “in due course.” The themed days announced so far are below.
| Date (2026) | What’s scheduled |
|---|---|
| Mon, Nov 9 | Opening day; theme: food, agriculture and health |
| Tue, Nov 10 | Energy and transport |
| Wed–Thu, Nov 11–12 | Leaders’ summit; themes: zero waste, then resilient cities |
| Fri, Nov 13 | Finance and trade |
| Mon–Fri, Nov 16–20 | Final week of negotiations; scheduled close Nov 20 |
Source: COP31 programme overview, checked November 2, 2026.
Why does COP31 matter?
For readers in Europe and the US, the talks touch energy prices, trade rules and aid budgets. In other words, decisions made in Antalya can show up later in national policy at home.
Money is the biggest open question. At COP30 in Brazil last year, governments agreed to at least triple finance for adaptation in developing countries by 2035. However, Climate Home News reported that the deal left out the baseline year, a headline figure and who pays. The African Group of Negotiators has now asked for formal agenda time on that target, plus trade and the Green Climate Fund, which could set up an early fight over the agenda.
Türkiye has also set out an “action agenda” with 10 priorities. According to Hürriyet Daily News, the list runs from zero waste and food security to clean energy, the oceans and cities built to withstand climate shocks.
What led to the shared presidency?
Australia and Türkiye both bid for the 2026 summit and neither would step aside at COP30. As a result, a compromise gave Türkiye the presidency, the venue and the leaders’ events, while Australia runs the formal talks, AFP reported.
The two sides have since described the deal in slightly different ways. Bowen told AFP in June that he and Kurum would close the talks “Together.” Kurum, for his part, said in September that the final decision belongs to the COP31 Presidency. Both men say the partnership is working smoothly.
How have governments and others reacted?
Turnout looks strong. Brazil’s presidency said Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will attend and formally hand over the COP chair, and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham also plans to be there, Reuters reported. Türkiye says President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UN Secretary-General António Guterres are expected to welcome leaders, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also due to speak.
Observers are more cautious. A researcher at the French think tank IDDRI told AFP the dual model could produce disagreements, while a French official saw a clear split of roles. Meanwhile, developing countries want firm finance numbers, and richer nations face tight budgets at home.
What happens next?
The opening plenary is on November 9. Then the leaders’ summit follows on November 11–12, when national statements are expected. Negotiators then have until November 20 to agree on final texts, and Lula leaves on November 13 for the ASEAN summit, according to Reuters.
How to watch COP31 live
The UN itself is the first stop. At COP30, open plenary meetings and press briefings had a free public webcast, live and on demand, according to the UNFCCC’s COP30 notes for participants. So expect the same for Antalya once the schedule is published on the UNFCCC COP31 page.
For news coverage with analysis, international channels are the better choice:
- TRT World is the English-language news channel of Türkiye’s public broadcaster, so it reports from the host country. Our TRT World live stream guide lists the official ways to watch.
- DW News streams free from Germany on official platforms; see our DW News guide.
- France 24 English and Euronews both offer official free streams. Our France 24 English guide and Euronews guide cover apps, TV and web.
- Al Jazeera English streams free on its official site and apps; details are in our Al Jazeera English guide.
For more live-event explainers, browse our Hot Topics coverage.
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Frequently asked questions
When can I watch COP31 live?
The conference runs from November 9 to 20, 2026. The leaders’ summit on November 11–12 is likely to draw the most coverage. Antalya is three hours ahead of London.
Is there a free COP31 live stream?
Very likely. At COP30 the UNFCCC offered a free public webcast of open plenaries and press briefings, and several international news channels stream free on their official platforms.
Who is leading the talks?
Türkiye’s Murat Kurum is COP31 President, and Australia’s Chris Bowen is President of Negotiations, according to the UNFCCC.
Sources
- UNFCCC: UN Climate Change Conference, Antalya, November 2026
- COP31 Türkiye: Programme overview
- Reuters (via Internazionale): Brazil’s Lula to attend COP31, Oct 30, 2026
- AFP via France 24: Turkey, Australia’s joint COP31 leadership, Oct 7, 2026
- Climate Home News: Africa wants adaptation finance on COP31 agenda, Oct 28, 2026
- Hürriyet Daily News: Türkiye details COP31 plans, Sept 26, 2026
