Developing countries risk missing out on opportunities to build climate resilience and transition to clean energy unless they can participate more fully in COP31’s push to turn pledges into action, according to United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell.
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Speaking at the opening of the talks in Antalya, Türkiye, on 9 November, Stiell acknowledged that many developing countries have struggled to engage with the summit’s Action Agenda, which is the UN climate process’ implementation track. It brings together voluntary efforts to turn the Paris Agreement’s goals and COP decisions into real-world projects, partnerships and solutions that can be scaled up.
“Many developing countries have not been able to engage fully with the Action Agenda. That means they’re missing out,” he said. “Missing out on the chance to harness its benefits to build resilience and transition to clean energy.”
Stiell invited countries to voluntarily nominate focal points to receive updates on opportunities and progress. He also proposed helping governments strengthen collaboration with businesses, civil society and other non-government organisations.
His appeal came as the World Meteorological Organization warned that a strengthening El Niño would intensify global heat into 2027, underscoring the need to prepare for further climate extremes.
In its State of the Climate Update 2026 released on Monday as COP31 opened, the UN agency said this year was already on track to rank among the warmest on record. Global temperatures averaged 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels between January and September.
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Fail to deliver adaptation finance today, and tomorrow’s humanitarian crisis may be worse.
Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary, UN Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Stiell said COP31 must break global targets and national climate plans into practical steps, including expanding renewable energy, strengthening cross-border grids and reducing methane emissions.
But implementation also requires tackling countries’ “immense frustration” in accessing finance already committed and available, he said, alongside delivering the tripling of adaptation finance agreed last year.
He said negotiations should clarify how to achieve the US$300 billion and US$1.3 trillion climate finance commitments without reopening previous agreements.
Campaign group 350.org said in a statement that securing climate finance provision on COP31’s agenda, despite resistance from developed countries, was an initial victory that must now translate into funding
The dispute centres on wealthy nations’ obligation under the Paris Agreement to provide finance, rather than simply mobilise investment from private and other sources. Inclusion on the agenda enables negotiations but does not guarantee delivery.
“Getting climate finance onto the agenda is an important first win for developing countries, but now we need real commitments,” said Rukiya Khamis, 350.org’s East Africa programme manager. She called for progress on adaptation finance and proposed taxing fossil fuel companies’ excess profits to help generate funding.
COP31 president Murat Kurum similarly identified unequal access to finance and technology as an obstacle to closing the gap between climate promises and people’s lives.
“Some of the distances that divide our world cannot be seen,” Kurum said in his opening speech. “They separate those able to secure finance from those unable to do so.”
Kurum promoted Türkiye’s Climate Implementation Bridge, designed to connect investors with projects needing funding and countries seeking technology with potential providers.
Harjeet Singh, founding director of the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation, said the initiative could be particularly consequential for Asia and the Global South, where high capital costs, debt distress and limited technical capacity hamper countries’ ability to translate climate plans into investment.
Alongside the finance initiative, Kurum highlighted the presidency’s “35-by-35” pledge to raise electricity’s share of global final energy consumption to 35 per cent by 2035, supported by renewable energy, grids, storage and efficiency.
However, Kurum’s last letter on the Action Agenda had no explicit commitment to phase out or phase down fossil fuels. It described the presidency’s implementation targets, including the electrification pledge, as voluntary and non-prescriptive, creating no new obligations for individual countries.
Both leaders stressed the need to deliver existing finance commitments. Stiell insisted that formal negotiations remained central, with strong outcomes needed on adaptation, emissions reductions, finance and a just transition.
“Postpone an investment in resilience today, and tomorrow we may face the cost of a disaster. Fail to deliver adaptation finance today, and tomorrow’s humanitarian crisis may be worse,” he said.
