COP31 opens with focus on electrification and artificial intelligence as carbon removal technology lags
November 13, 2026 · 2 min read
The United Nations climate conference COP31 began on Monday in Antalya, Turkey, with officials highlighting methane, electrification, and the economic and security effects of climate impacts. Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UNFCCC, and Murat Kurum, the designated president of COP31, led the opening session.
Electrification forms the central axis of the Turkish presidency's agenda. The goal is to electrify more than one third of the global economy by 2035, compared with roughly one fifth today, and countries are being asked to commit to this target. Environmental groups have already criticized the commitment for not requiring that additional electricity come from low-carbon sources.
Artificial intelligence entered the conference agenda through the Antalya Artificial Intelligence Pledge, a voluntary agreement developed with the International Telecommunication Union. The pledge aims to harness artificial intelligence for climate action while addressing the growing energy and water demands of the technology. It rests on four pillars: sustainable artificial intelligence infrastructure with more low-emission energy and efficient use of electricity and water; responsible design and purchasing across the technology lifecycle, including electronic waste; measurement and disclosure of environmental impact; and support for artificial intelligence applications for climate, prioritizing developing countries. The formal launch is scheduled for November 16, the conference day dedicated to science, industry, and technology. No signatories have been announced so far. The European Union is evaluating whether to join, and the United States, the largest developer of data centers, no longer participates in the COP process. Signatories will report progress at each climate conference starting from COP32 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2030.
The pledge creates no new obligations and will be adapted to each signatory's circumstances. Evan Tachovsky, director of data and artificial intelligence at the World Resources Institute, said the text points in the right direction but lacks accountability mechanisms to guide countries and technology companies.
Carbon removal technology received attention on the first day. Martin Krause, director of the climate change division at the United Nations Environment Programme, stated that nearly all carbon removal today comes from forests, ecosystems, and oceans. New technologies deliver less than 0.1 percent, he said. According to Krause, the path back to 1.5 degrees Celsius requires carbon removal, and forests are critical infrastructure. On the same day, the COP30 presidency formally launched the Roadmap to Stop and Reverse Deforestation and Forest Degradation by 2030.