Leaders from Australia, Brazil, and UK prepare for Antalya climate talks

The thirty-first Conference of the Parties will open in Antalya, Turkey, bringing together a fragmented group of national leaders. The event marks the final appearance of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at a major climate summit before a successor is chosen.

Australia holds the lead in the overall direction of the negotiations, a role secured after a contentious bid process with Turkey. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will speak at the start of the leaders' segment but is not expected to remain for the full duration. Chris Bowen, the Australian climate and energy minister, will manage daily operations. Bowen oversees both the country's fossil fuel exports and its renewable energy investments, a portfolio that has placed him in a difficult position regarding domestic policy.

Turkey controls the action agenda, which consists of voluntary initiatives. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has used this authority to advance the circular economy, a priority for his wife, Emine Erdoğan. She has called for an end to a throwaway culture and for increased recycling, although the country still faces issues with methane leaks from waste sites. Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, is advising on the push for electrification to replace fossil fuels in heating and transport.

Brazil will arrive with two non-binding roadmaps. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is making his first overseas trip since winning a fourth term. The plans outline steps for transitioning away from fossil fuels and reversing deforestation but do not include firm deadlines for governments.

China will not send President Xi Jinping to Antalya. The country accounts for nearly a third of global annual carbon output, driven by industrial growth. However, its rapid investment in renewable energy is reshaping the global market. Chinese officials will negotiate with petrostates like Russia and Saudi Arabia, which view China as a key ally, while also dealing with nations that are increasingly important as customers for low-carbon technology.

India withdrew its bid to host the 2028 summit in April without providing a reason. Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces a domestic tension between a booming renewable energy sector and a coal industry that supplies about 70% of electricity. Bhupender Yadav, the environment minister, will lead the Indian delegation and is known for his cooperative relationship with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.

The United States is expected to send no official delegation. President Donald Trump is focused on midterm elections and plans to withdraw the country from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Some Democratic congresspeople and state governors may attend independently. They have strengthened their climate stances following a summer of drought and fires, despite a campaign to downplay the issue before the elections.

The United Kingdom will be represented by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. He will be accompanied by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who helped broker the deal at last year's summit in Belém. The UK takes over the G20 presidency in December and plans to focus on building resilience against climate impacts. Energy and Net Zero Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh will head the British delegation for the final negotiations after the leaders depart.

The European Union is represented by Wopke Hoekstra, the Dutch climate commissioner. He is expected to focus on competition with China. The bloc has recently loosened some green regulations and delayed rules on electric vehicles. Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission President, has not confirmed her attendance. Saudi Arabia has not named its delegation leader but has a history of obstructing negotiations. The country recently led a group that sought to delay the publication of a key climate science report until after 2028.