COP31

What the paper can ask

• UNFCCC adopted 9 May 1992, opened for signature at Rio in June 1992, in force 21 March 1994; 198 parties.
• COP1 was Berlin 1995; the Kyoto Protocol came from COP3 (1997) and the Paris Agreement from COP21 (2015).
• Only one year, 2020, had no COP (the pandemic).
• The UNFCCC is one of three 'Rio Conventions', with the biodiversity (CBD) and desertification (UNCCD) treaties.

Full topic sheet

1. Environment3 Nov

   India sets COP31 priorities: predictable climate finance, tech transfer, party-driven mitigation

   Revise first Summits were asked in CLAT 2024, 2025 and 2026

   India said that at the COP31 climate summit in Turkiye it will push for steady, predictable money from rich countries to help poorer ones fight climate change, and for no new targets forced on countries from above.

   Exam angle, details

   Exam angle: COP summits, climate finance and the Paris Agreement appear often in environment questions.

   Details

   Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on 3 November 2026 that India will press at COP31 in Antalya, Turkiye, starting 9 November, for predictable climate finance and a decision to begin the Climate Finance Work Programme. India also wants mitigation and the Global Stocktake to stay party-driven and non-punitive, with no new top-down targets.

   • Briefing by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on 3 November 2026
   • COP31 is in Antalya, Turkiye, beginning 9 November 2026
   • India seeks a decision to commence the Climate Finance Work Programme
   • India says climate finance is an obligation of developed countries under Article 9.1 (Paris Agreement) and should be predictable, largely public and concessional
   • India wants mitigation and the Global Stocktake to stay party-driven, facilitative and non-punitive, ruling out new top-down targets

   New to this? What actually happens at a COP, and what has India promised? 5 min
2. Environment3 Oct

   COP31 set for Antalya, Turkiye, 9-20 November 2026

   Revise first Summits were asked in CLAT 2024, 2025 and 2026

   COP31, the UN's 31st yearly climate conference (Conference of the Parties), will be held in Antalya, Turkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026. Turkiye's Murat Kurum is COP President while Australia's Chris Bowen leads the negotiations.

   Exam angle, details and a check

   Exam angle: UNFCCC 1992; Paris Agreement 2015; COP30 Belem 2025; India net zero by 2070.

   Details

   Turkiye hosts the 31st UN climate conference in Antalya, with Turkish minister Murat Kurum as COP31 President. Australia's Chris Bowen has the separate role of President of Negotiations under an unusual shared arrangement.

   • COP31 is hosted by Turkiye in Antalya
   • Talks run 9 to 20 November 2026
   • Murat Kurum (Turkiye's environment minister) is COP31 President
   • Chris Bowen (Australia) is President of Negotiations with authority to lead the negotiations in consultation with Turkiye
   • Leaders' summit is on 11-12 November

   New to this? What actually happens at a COP, and what has India promised? 5 min

   Got it? Check yourself 1 question

Sources

Sources

1. Hindustan Times
2. Livemint
3. The Statesman
4. Climate Home News
5. Australian Government DCCEEW

Test yourself

1.The Kyoto Protocol (1997) set binding emission reduction targets for:

AAll countries equallyBDeveloping countries onlyCOil-producing countriesDDeveloped (Annex I) countries

Correct. Kyoto, adopted in 1997 and in force from 2005, bound developed countries to cut greenhouse gases; the Paris Agreement later asked all countries for NDCs.

Not quite. Kyoto, adopted in 1997 and in force from 2005, bound developed countries to cut greenhouse gases; the Paris Agreement later asked all countries for NDCs. It goes into your error book.

2.The Paris Agreement (2015) aims to hold global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius and to pursue efforts to limit it to:

A1 degree CelsiusB1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levelsC2.5 degrees CelsiusD3 degrees Celsius

Correct. Adopted at COP21 in Paris in December 2015 and in force from 4 November 2016, the Agreement relies on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Not quite. Adopted at COP21 in Paris in December 2015 and in force from 4 November 2016, the Agreement relies on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It goes into your error book.

3.Which COP of the UNFCCC, held at Dubai in 2023, concluded the first Global Stocktake and operationalised the loss and damage fund?

ACOP26BCOP28CCOP27DCOP29

Correct. COP28 (Dubai, 2023) completed the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement and called for transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Not quite. COP28 (Dubai, 2023) completed the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement and called for transitioning away from fossil fuels. It goes into your error book.

Related

• UNFCCC