Leaders at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, on Thursday held the first high-level dialogue on urban resilience at a United Nations climate conference. Negotiators in the same talks remained divided over money for adapting to climate change, UN News reported.
According to UN News, up to three billion people lack adequate housing, and more than one billion live in informal settlements. These areas are often exposed to floods, landslides and extreme heat. UN-Habitat executive director Anacláudia Rossbach delivered remarks on behalf of UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “Housing is climate action,” she said.
A new UN-Habitat analysis found that 80% of national climate plans now contain well-developed urban measures, up from 50% in the previous round. UN News reported that cities need about $4.5 trillion in climate investment each year through 2030, while current financing covers about one-fifth of that amount.
Rossbach told UN News that the poorest communities, especially those in informal settlements, have fewer resources to prepare for disasters or recover from them. She said “systemic change” is needed and stressed partnerships among governments, banks, businesses and communities. She also said she hopes cities will gain a stronger voice in future negotiations and better access to financing.
A total of 69 mayors, representing more than 250 million people, committed to another year of climate action through the Yearly Offer of Action initiative. UN News said that is a 60% increase from last year. The plans include flood-warning systems in Addis Ababa, London’s first dedicated heat plan, and incentives in Melbourne to improve the environmental performance of 400 commercial buildings.
On the second day of the Leaders’ Summit, developing nations again asked for support. Seychelles warned that recovering from storms and floods can leave small countries trapped in debt. Nepal, Bhutan and Kyrgyzstan, which failed to secure a dedicated agenda item earlier in the week, joined Tajikistan and Pakistan in calling for more protection of glaciers and mountain communities. Nepal also proposed a “Sagarmatha to the Sea” partnership linking mountain and coastal communities.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the country’s first special representative for climate security. He cited growing links between climate change, food insecurity, migration and conflict.
In the negotiation rooms, delegates continued to disagree over adaptation finance and the future of fossil fuels. Small island nations demanded faster emissions cuts, while fossil fuel-producing countries defended their development priorities. Australia, which is leading the talks, has asked countries for input on a proposed cover decision. Written submissions are due Saturday.
Several funding announcements were made. Philanthropic organizations announced more than $480 million to address methane and other powerful greenhouse gases, plus $25 million to support emissions reductions in seven countries. The report did not name the organizations. Solomon Islands pledged $400,000 to the Green Climate Fund, which UN News said makes it the first small island developing state to contribute to a replenishment cycle. Türkiye secured a $1.6 billion financing agreement with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to support climate reforms, clean energy and resilience.
UN News also listed a new UN disaster risk financing platform that aims to unlock more than $3 billion to protect 75 million people from climate shocks by 2030. The report did not say who is providing the money.
Activist Greta Thunberg joined Nepalese parliamentarian Sagar Dhakal and other activists in calling for climate justice. Thunberg accused political leaders of failing to confront the climate emergency. Dhakal said he helped dig people from the rubble after a deadly landslide near the Nepal-Tibet border earlier this year. He said Switzerland was able to evacuate residents before a glacier collapse because it had enough research and resources, and Nepal could not.