Former COP president urges delegates to put people and science first

At the opening ceremony of COP31 in Antalya, former COP president André Corrêa do Lago urged delegates to keep the effects of climate policy on people in mind and follow the science. His remarks put human welfare and scientific evidence at the centre of the climate talks.

Do Lago, a Brazilian who chaired last year’s climate summit, said he hoped the conference would make progress through its “action agenda”: discussions organised by topic and intended to cut greenhouse-gas emissions and help societies withstand climate change.

Unlike formal negotiations, these discussions do not require every country to agree in full, he said, which could make them “wonderful and efficient”.

He also stressed the growing importance of adapting to climate change, particularly for the most vulnerable. Its effects, he said, are being felt much sooner than expected. Do Lago argued that emissions cuts should fall chiefly on the wealthiest.