Stil at COP31: No climate conference can magically end the crisis

Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said midway through COP31 in Antalya that adaptation, access to finance and electrification were at the heart of the discussions, urging delegates to avoid stalling as negotiations entered their second week.

Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said there was no quick fix for the climate crisis at a press conference held on Saturday midway through the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31), hosted by the Turkish city of Antalya from Nov. 9 to 20.

“No Conference of the Parties can make this crisis disappear with a magic wand, but every conference must drive progress,” Stiell said, noting that countries were turning to climate action to protect their people and address the financial burdens caused by global warming and turmoil in energy markets.

He said countries recognized that renewable energy had become a key driver of growth, jobs and secure, affordable energy, while adapting to climate change had become central to competitiveness. He added that electrification and access to finance were among the key issues under discussion.

In the clip, Stiell said the negotiations were operating at full pace, with the parties engaged and making progress, adding: “Around 200 countries are working on 165 mandates. Every country has an opinion, and every country has a voice.”

Call to avoid tactical stalling

Stiell stressed that reaching agreement on every word and sentence was difficult but vital, and that there could be no collective success without concessions from all parties. As the second week began, he urged delegates to move quickly to the most difficult issues and avoid tactical delays.

He noted that the work agenda linked what countries had agreed to with what was actually implemented in the real economy, from clean energy, stronger infrastructure and cleaner industry to protecting people from disasters. He said these changes create jobs, save lives and protect livelihoods.

Simon Stiell speaks at a high-level dialogue on climate action by developing countries at COP31

Engaging billions in the climate fight

Stiell said the global fight against climate change could be won only if the climate community succeeded in engaging billions of people by connecting climate impacts and solutions to their everyday needs, such as better health, good jobs and secure, affordable energy, as well as to things they enjoy, such as sports.

He cited this summer’s football World Cup, saying storms had halted matches, while the heat had exhausted players and sent fans to hospitals. Telemundo journalist Vanessa Hauc and Tamsil Hussain, founder of the Indian organization PLUC, also took part in the press conference and spoke about using sports and cinema to raise climate awareness.

Video and photos: UN Climate Change

Stil at COP31: No climate conference can magically end the crisis