WWF: COP31 must deliver beyond the negotiating room

Governments at COP31 must show that global climate action is moving decisively from negotiation to implementation by delivering concrete progress on existing commitments, says WWF.

The energy transition is accelerating in key parts of the world, showing that change is possible, but countries still aren’t acting fast enough to meet the Paris Agreement goals and address growing climate impacts.

Science shows that an overshoot of 1.5°C is likely. The level of action taken now will determine its severity and duration. For WWF, success at COP31 must include a political response to this challenge, with faster emissions cuts, stronger resilience for people and ecosystems, and substantial finance for developing countries, especially the most vulnerable.

COP31 must also be a moment to consolidate an approach in which formal negotiations set the direction, while coalitions, sectoral initiatives and regional partnerships move faster to deliver results. Both aspects must align with the Paris Agreement and strengthen collective progress and accountability.

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF Global Climate and Energy Lead and COP20 President, said: “People will judge climate leadership not by another promise, but by the results they see in their countries, economies and lives. Change is already happening. Now is the time to accelerate it, spread it and finance it, so that progress becomes unstoppable.

“That means moving much faster: turning national climate plans into real investment, getting finance to the countries and communities that need it, and making the transition away from fossil fuels irreversible. We already have the solutions. What is missing is the political courage. We hope to see it at COP31.”

COP31 must put that political courage to work. WWF’s five priorities set out what governments and partners must deliver, both through the formal talks and beyond them:

• Deliver, don’t delay: Put the agreements from the first Global Stocktake – the review of collective climate progress – into action.
• Bolster resilience: Help countries adapt faster so people and nature are better protected from climate impacts.
• Put the finance behind the transition: Give developing countries climate funding they can count on, and make it easier to access.
• Use the Action Agenda to accelerate implementation: Turn initiatives beyond the formal talks into results. This includes global targets to expand electrification and support the shift away from fossil fuels.
• Innovate on implementation: Make delivery efforts work together for greater impact. These include Mission 1.5, the Global Implementation Accelerator, the Climate Implementation Bridge, and roadmaps for action on fossil fuels, forests and finance.

Fernanda de Carvalho, WWF Head of Policy for Climate and Energy, said: “Delivery means joining the dots and every step matters. Countries must urgently turn plans into action, with clear responsibilities and a way to track results. Funding must reach the countries and communities that need it, and local priorities must shape how it is used.

“For WWF, nature and people must be the foundation of a 1.5°C future. That means moving away from fossil fuels, halting deforestation and ecosystem conversion by 2030, restoring ecosystems, protecting oceans and changing how we produce and consume food. COP31 must support countries in implementing this joined-up approach.”

Under COP31’s co-presidency model, Türkiye and Australia must work in close partnership to translate ambition into strong outcomes and accelerated implementation. WWF expects both countries to use their complementary roles to build trust, unlock progress and ensure that both formal negotiations and the wider Action Agenda deliver a successful COP31.

Dermot O’Gorman, WWF-Australia CEO, said: “As President of Negotiations, Australia must drive an ambitious COP agenda rooted in justice for communities on the front line of climate change. That means continuing to work in partnership with Pacific nations, who are leading the global push for greater ambition. Their leadership and local solutions should be at the heart of all decisions made in Antalya.”

Mine Doğan, WWF-Türkiye Conservation Manager, Climate, Energy & Biodiversity, said: “As the host and the COP President, Türkiye has a valuable opportunity to elevate COP31 from a diplomatic responsibility to genuine leadership. Such leadership is built on credibility, and national policies fully aligned with the 1.5°C goal can provide a strong foundation for it.

“We hope COP31 will decisively accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, deliver concrete steps that make climate finance more predictable and accessible, and fully integrate the role of nature into climate action. Countries with greater capacity have a vital role to play in creating an enabling environment for a holistic transition and in supporting those who need it most. We welcome the vision of strengthening implementation and supporting it through both existing and new initiatives.”

ENDS