Government officials, scientists, climate organizations and business leaders from around the world are set to come together in Turkey this week for the annual international climate conference, COP31. And for the second year in a row, an official Trump administration delegation will not be present.
Short for the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the conference is part of a multinational treaty that was adopted in 1992. When the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, COPs became a primary tool for working out the details on how to achieve the goals of the agreement. ABC reported.
The annual meetings are the forum for countries, non-governmental organizations, and other interested parties to discuss global efforts to combat human-induced climate change and negotiate agreements on topics such as mitigation, financing and adaptation.
COP31 leadership says the conference presents an important opportunity for countries to strengthen cooperation and accelerate climate action, describing it as both an "implementation COP" and a "COP of the future," with a focus on translating commitments into clear, measurable progress.
Why is the U.S. not officially attending COP31?
Nearly 200 countries participate in the UNFCCC, and most attend the COP annually.
On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump signed an executive order announcing that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Agreement for the second time.
The U.S. is also withdrawing from the UNFCCC, following an executive order signed by Trump on January 7. This withdrawal will become official next year.
