A €30 billion adaptation plan, a proposed delay to EU methane rules, and a Peoples’ Climate Summit taking shape in Antalya.
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COP31 is two weeks away. The European Investment Bank has announced a target of at least €30 billion in climate adaptation financing by 2030. Meanwhile, the European Parliament has voted to delay some methane requirements for imported fossil fuels by three years. Parliament’s position is not yet law; negotiations with member states are still to come.
In Antalya, climate activists and civil society organisations have unveiled the programme for the Peoples’ Climate Summit. The gathering will begin with a march on 14 November, followed by meetings from 15 to 18 November. Organisers are planning around 150 events.
This week: six news stories, four longer reads and practical information for those travelling to Antalya. We can also help with communications, meetings, events and local coordination during COP31. COP31Radar services
The Peoples’ Climate Summit opens with a march on 14 November. Organisers have announced around 150 events for the 15–18 November programme, involving more than 130 organising groups.
Read the feature ↗The deadline for admitted NGOs and intergovernmental organisations to nominate representatives to the UNFCCC was 10 August. Registration confirmations for representatives nominated on time can be completed until 8 November at 23:59 CET. Country and UN delegations follow different schedules. Badge collection begins on 3 November. Access to the Blue Zone requires valid accreditation and confirmed registration. UNFCCC information for participants
8 November at 23:59 CET is 9 November at 01:59 in Türkiye. The August deadline was for NGO and IGO nominations; the November deadline concerns confirmation of registrations already nominated on time. Rules for media and other participant categories differ.
The UNFCCC may provide eligible organisations in the Blue Zone with a free meeting room for up to 55 minutes per day for coordination meetings. At least five participants are required. Requests enter the allocation process 24 hours before the meeting, and a room is not guaranteed. Official side events cannot be held in these rooms. Rules and requests
Green Zone visitor registration is open, but the area will be closed to visitors on 11–12 November during the World Leaders Summit. The conference venue and registration desks will also be closed on Sunday, 15 November. Green Zone registration does not grant Blue Zone accreditation. Official UNFCCC guidance
The Climate Action Innovation Zone will take place on 10–11 November at the Sueno Hotels Deluxe Belek Convention & Meeting Center. Alongside the Sustainable Innovation Forum, the programme includes sessions on finance, electrification and Africa. It is separate from the official Blue and Green Zones, with different registration requirements. Allow for travel between the EXPO Center and Belek. Organiser’s programme
The European Parliament has backed a longer transition period for methane measurement and verification requirements covering EU imports of oil, gas and coal. Under its position, importers would have until 31 May 2031. The decision is not final: negotiations with the Council are still required. Reuters.
The EIB Group’s target for 2026–2030 is roughly double the adaptation financing provided over the previous five years. Water, agriculture, infrastructure and cities are priorities. The figure is a financing target, not money already disbursed. EIB announcement.
According to the organisers, more than 130 organisations will organise events at the summit, which opens with a march on the Global Day of Action on 14 November. The 15–18 November programme at the Mimar Sinan Congress Centre is independent of the COP31 negotiations. Organisers’ announcement.
In a joint policy statement ahead of COP31, the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) set out six demands covering climate justice, reparations and corporate accountability. The network is calling for communities most affected by the climate crisis to have a say in decision-making. ESCR-Net statement.
UNEP’s technical assessment highlights the importance of affordable financing for electric two- and three-wheelers. It estimates a capital requirement of around US$110 billion between 2026 and 2035, alongside the need for safe collection and recycling systems for batteries at the end of their life. UNEP.
The thematic programme published by the COP31 Türkiye Presidency includes dedicated days for energy and transport, resilient cities, finance and trade, and implementation capacity.
The European Parliament’s vote on 22 October has intensified the debate over delaying EU rules designed to cut methane emissions. The vote does not change the rules currently in force.
On 22 October, the European Parliament supported delaying certain methane requirements for imports of oil, gas and coal. Under the position it adopted, the deadline for proving equivalent monitoring, reporting and verification standards for supply contracts signed or renewed after 4 August 2024 would move to 31 May 2031. That is later than the deadline under the existing regulation.
For Parliament’s proposal to take effect, negotiations with the Council of the EU must conclude and the final legislation must be adopted.
Supporters of the delay point to pressure on energy supplies, import costs and the time companies need to build measurement systems. Opponents fear postponing measures to reduce emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. At stake are both energy costs and the monitoring and reduction of leaks.
The COP31 Presidency has listed methane reduction among its priorities, while the EU is considering easing its own import requirements. That tension is likely to be debated in Antalya. The vote also raises questions about how the EU’s domestic decisions align with its position in international climate talks.
The European Investment Bank’s new plan aims to increase investment in adapting to the impacts of climate change.
Under a plan announced on 22 October, the EIB Group aims to provide at least €30 billion in climate adaptation financing between 2026 and 2030. The bank says this is roughly twice the amount provided in the preceding five years. The figure is a target, not money already spent, and it will not all be distributed as grants.
The plan covers water management, climate-resilient agriculture, flood and drought protection, energy infrastructure, public buildings and nature-based solutions. Alongside loans and guarantees, the EIB plans to offer advisory support. It also aims to expand project preparation and technical assistance in climate-vulnerable countries outside the EU.
The distribution of funding across countries and projects is not yet known. Access conditions for smaller projects will be particularly important. The bank also plans to launch its ClimateSET climate-risk assessment tool later this year.
For cities facing floods, heatwaves and drought, the ability to prepare projects will matter as much as access to finance. Feasibility studies, investment planning and lending terms will shape whether the announced funding turns into municipal projects.
Primary documents: EIB Climate Adaptation Plan 2026–2030 (22 pages)
Held in Antalya outside the COP31 negotiations, the Peoples’ Climate Summit will bring together movements working on climate justice, labour, ecology and rights.
According to the programme released on 21 October, the Peoples’ Climate Summit will open with a march on the Global Day of Action on 14 November. Meetings at the Mimar Sinan Congress Centre will run from 15 to 18 November. Organisers have announced around 150 events involving more than 130 organising groups. Speakers are expected from 32 countries.
The organisers also say that around 300 international and 200 local organisations are supporting the summit.
Prepared over months by volunteers through a participatory and inclusive process, the Peoples’ Climate Summit aims to amplify the voices of those who have gone unheard. Climate activists from around the world are expected in Antalya, including those who argue that official COP negotiations give more weight to the interests of the fossil fuel economy than to communities and their demands. The programme covers fossil fuels, ecosystem destruction, labour, democracy, peace and climate justice.
The COP31 Presidency says it has obtained two certificates covering event sustainability management and zero waste before the conference has begun.
On 23 October, the COP31 Türkiye Presidency announced that it had obtained TS ISO 20121:2024 Event Sustainability Management System and Zero Waste certificates. The Presidency describes this as a first in the history of COP conferences. Links to both certificates are included in its official announcement.
ISO 20121 is a standard for managing sustainability objectives at events. Certification concerns the planning and management process. With COP31 yet to begin, it provides no data on actual environmental outcomes such as transport emissions, energy consumption or waste volumes.
Securing the certificates before COP31 begins says something about how preparations are being managed. The conference’s environmental footprint—from travel and energy use to logistics and what happens to materials afterwards—can only be assessed once it is over.
COP31 Presidency statement, 23 October · COP31 sustainability policy.
UNEP says it is planning more than 130 events on science, finance, buildings and climate solutions during COP31. Its events page is being updated as the programme develops. UNEP programme ↗
The UNFCCC has warned of fraudulent messages targeting COP31 participants. It advises against sharing passport, banking or login details through suspicious links. Official warning
The UNFCCC pavilion in the Blue Zone will host sessions and livestreams. Its programme is being published on the conference website. UNFCCC conference website
The Peoples’ Climate Summit will bring climate justice and participation demands into focus outside the formal negotiations. The 14 November march, subsequent meetings and environmental defenders’ demands are particularly relevant.
The EIB’s €30 billion adaptation financing target is especially relevant to local authorities preparing for floods, extreme heat and water risks. Access will depend on project readiness and financing conditions.
The proposed delay to EU methane requirements could affect energy importers and supply chains. Following COP31’s sustainability certifications, publication of the conference’s actual environmental results will also be important.
The COP31 host country agreement includes provisions on participation and human rights. Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, published research on 13 October about the treatment of environmental defenders in Türkiye. The right to protest and the treatment of environmental defenders will be part of the debate in Antalya.
In a statement on 9 October, the UNFCCC outlined participation provisions in the COP31 Host Country Agreement, which entered into force on 18 September. It highlighted commitments concerning inclusion, gender equality, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and persons with disabilities.
Human Rights Watch’s 13 October research examines the experiences of people involved in environmental protests around Akbelen and Perşembe Plateau. Based on interviews and documents it reviewed, the organisation argues that detentions, legal proceedings and police interventions have put pressure on environmental defenders. Its allegations should not be read as findings from concluded court cases.
Environmental struggles and democratic participation also feature prominently in the Peoples’ Climate Summit programme. During COP31, the ability to voice criticism, hold peaceful demonstrations and access official meetings will offer a test of how the host country’s participation commitments are implemented.
Issues to watch include peaceful assembly, accreditation requirements, accessibility of meetings, environmental defenders’ freedom of expression and complaint mechanisms.
UNFCCC Host Country Agreement, 9 October · Human Rights Watch, 13 October · Peoples’ Climate Summit, 21 October.
2 November: Registration deadline for the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) parliamentary meeting at COP31 (for eligible parliamentary delegations). 9–20 November: COP31 at Antalya EXPO Center. 11–12 November: World Leaders Summit; Green Zone closed to visitors. Although the official COP31 thematic programme has been published by day, the detailed session schedule may still be incomplete.
Official sources: https://www.ipu.org/event/ipu-parliamentary-meetings-cop31 · https://unfccc.int/cop31/ifp · https://cop31.tr/programme-overview
26–30 October: Countries’ negotiating positions ahead of COP31 and the next steps on the EU methane proposal will be worth watching.
3 November: Badge collection begins at the UNFCCC conference venue.
8 November, 23:59 CET: Deadline to confirm registration for NGO and IGO delegates nominated on time.
9 November: COP31 opens at Antalya EXPO Center. The Green Zone will be closed to visitors during the leaders’ summit on 11–12 November.
10–11 November: Climate Action Innovation Zone in Belek; Peoples’ Climate Summit in Antalya on 14–18 November.
Sunday, 15 November: COP31 conference venue and registration desks closed.
COP31 is two weeks away. While Europe debates methane rules and adaptation finance, climate justice movements are preparing to gather in Antalya. We will be following the negotiations, the events taking place beyond the official venue and what happens on the ground.
We are also helping organisations preparing for COP31 in Antalya with meeting and event planning, climate communications and local coordination. Explore COP31Radar services →
COP31Radar Weekly Social Institute of Change and Impact (SICI) is an independent publication produced in Antalya. It is not an official channel of the UNFCCC or the COP31 host country administration.