The 31st UN Climate Conference (COP31) will take place from 9 to 20 November 2026 at the Expo Center in Antalya in Turkey. The conference aims to review and continue implementation of the Paris Agreement; Turkey is hosting the meeting, while Australia is leading the negotiations. Germany is represented by a delegation and is one of the active negotiating partners on emissions reduction, adaptation and climate finance. ([unfccc.int](https://unfccc.int/cop31?utm_source=openai))
On 6 November 2026, the federal government announced that Chancellor Friedrich Merz would not attend COP31; the federal government will be represented by the Federal Ministry for the Environment. Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider is leading the German delegation in the negotiations, and State Secretary Heike Henn will also travel to the conference. The federal government is therefore opting for a focused expert presence rather than participation at head-of-government level. ([bundesregierung.de](https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/regierungspressekonferenz-vom-6-november-2026-2460276?utm_source=openai))
Representatives from nearly 200 countries, along with large numbers of observers from civil society, academia and business, are gathering in Antalya. The official agenda includes accelerating emissions reductions, adapting to climate impacts that have already occurred, reforming and expanding international climate finance mechanisms, and the role of non-CO2 greenhouse gases. Discussions on implementing national climate targets and supporting particularly vulnerable countries are especially prominent. ([unfccc.int](https://unfccc.int/cop31/high-level?utm_source=openai))
For Germany, the issues in Antalya include anchoring its national climate policy internationally, reaffirming financial pledges and promoting technological cooperation. The federal government is also stressing the need for concrete negotiating outcomes rather than general declarations of intent. Whether COP31 will deliver binding progress on key issues such as energy and coal phase-outs, or on binding financial transfers, remains unclear and will depend largely on the willingness to compromise of major emitters and donor countries. ([bundesumweltministerium.de](https://www.bundesumweltministerium.de/pressemitteilung/deutschland-auf-der-weltklimakonferenz-in-antalya-pariser-klimaabkommen-schneller-umsetzen?utm_source=openai))
Facts, responsibilities and dates: COP31 runs from 9 to 20 November 2026 in Antalya; the German federal government announced its representation arrangements on 6 November 2026; Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider is leading the delegation. Attributed statements are drawn from official communications by the Federal Ministry for the Environment and the federal government, as well as information from the UNFCCC organisers. ([bundesumweltministerium.de](https://www.bundesumweltministerium.de/veranstaltung/staatssekretaerin-heike-henn-reist-zur-31-un-weltklimakonferenz-in-antalya?utm_source=openai))
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).