Climate change - COP31 - Opening position for negotiations

As COP31 commences the opening tactice to enable progress with achieving a concrete outcome has been revealed by the two countries with responsibility for the Conference, Turkiye and Australia. Rather than focussing on carbon emissions reduction as the fundamental objective and target, the emphasis will be placed on increasing electrification and seeking agreement to that course of action. In effect it addresses the issue of reducing carbon emissions by using one of the methods to do so, rather than focus entirely on a carbon reduction target in itself. 

This direction is seen as reducing the likelihood of a meeting sustained opposition, particularly from petrochemical countries and therefore offering a pathway for reaching agreement from all countries. Whether this succeeds in achieving the much desired buy-in from the COP31 participants will only be apparent at the end of the Conference, when the agreed final statement is issued.