What is COP31?
COP is the annual United Nations climate conference, where countries from all around the world gather to negotiate how to tackle the climate crisis. Getting most of the world's leaders in one room to try and solve one of the biggest existential threats humanity has ever faced? Yeah, no big deal.
This year is the 31st year of COP and it is being held in Antalya, Türkiye.
Previous COP conferences have ranged in success. Some years, we've seen great progress, including the 2015 Paris Agreement, which legally bound countries "to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels." Other years, leaders and negotiators have struggled to land on a clear outcome.
This year, Australia is co-hosting the conference with Türkiye and Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen is President of negotiations. This means he is responsible for helping countries to reach an agreement on global climate action. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be there too.
