Leaders of China, US and India absent from COP31 summit

The leaders of China, the United States and India are not expected at the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, leaving the three biggest greenhouse-gas emitters without their top national leaders at the meeting. China is sending Vice-President Zheng Han, while the United States is sending no representative, according to ANP. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also absent from the guest list.

Dozens of prime ministers and presidents are expected in Antalya on Wednesday and Thursday, under tight security. Those due to attend include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The summit’s host, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, recently welcomed an expected increase in domestic oil production. Phasing out oil and other fossil fuels is a major topic for many countries at the summit, though ANP reports that no firm agreements are expected on the issue. The UN climate summit opened in Antalya earlier this week, with low expectations for major new targets.

Climate Action Network, an umbrella group, gave its satirical “Fossil of the Day” award to absent leaders from wealthy countries. The Netherlands was among the countries named, alongside Germany, France, Japan, Canada and Italy. The ceremony’s presenter called the absences “an unpleasant signal” about their commitment to climate policy, ANP reported.