COP31 Climate Talks in Turkey Face Pressure from War, AI, and US Disengagement
Representatives from nearly 200 countries are gathering in Antalya, Turkey, for two weeks of COP31 climate talks. The summit faces significant challenges from war-driven energy security fears, surging artificial intelligence (AI) power demand, and the disengagement of the United States from climate cooperation for the second consecutive year. The ongoing Iran war has led nations to scramble for oil cargoes and increase the use of coal plants, while the rapid rollout of AI is driving up global power demand, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. The US administration, under President Trump, has encouraged policies maximizing oil, gas, and coal production to address Middle East disruptions. COP31 host Turkey aims to electrify over a third of the global economy by 2035, but critics note the pledge does not mandate low-carbon electricity sources, leading to debates over what constitutes climate progress.