Climate activist Greta Thunberg has criticized the annual UN climate negotiations at COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, accusing host countries of using the platform to whitewash their environmental records. Thunberg arrived at the conference, where negotiations are taking place amidst deadly climate-related disasters, including heat waves and floods, and an energy crisis triggered by the Iran war. She accused the negotiations of being influenced by lobbyists representing industries responsible for environmental destruction and stated that our political and economic systems have become incompatible with human nature. Thunberg warned that climate change is threatening everything, saying the future of people and the planet is at stake. The conference is being co-hosted by Turkey and Australia, both of which promote renewable energy but continue to depend heavily on fossil fuels for electricity generation. Turkey aims to increase electricity's share of global energy consumption from around 23% currently to 35% by 2035, preferably through renewable sources such as solar and wind. Thunberg acknowledged the importance of progress on renewable energy but said the urgency of the climate crisis requires every possible positive development to be pursued. Young climate activists attending the conference welcomed Thunberg's presence, with some expressing hope that her participation would increase pressure on world leaders to deliver concrete action.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has arrived at the COP31 climate conference in Turkey's resort city of Antalya, where negotiations are taking place amidst deadly climate-related disasters and an energy crisis. Thunberg criticized the annual UN climate negotiations as "hypocritical," accusing host countries of using the global platform to whitewash their environmental records. She urged world leaders to prioritize people and the planet over profits and geopolitical power. The conference is being co-hosted by Turkey and Australia, both of which promote renewable energy but continue to depend heavily on fossil fuels for electricity generation. Thunberg's arrival generated excitement among young climate activists attending the conference, with several expressing hope that her presence would increase pressure on world leaders to deliver concrete action.
The COP31 climate conference is being co-hosted by Turkey and Australia, both of which promote renewable energy but continue to depend heavily on fossil fuels for electricity generation. Thunberg's arrival at the conference has generated excitement among young climate activists attending the conference, with several expressing hope that her presence would increase pressure on world leaders to deliver concrete action. Thunberg criticized the annual UN climate negotiations as "hypocritical," accusing host countries of using the global platform to whitewash their environmental records and urged world leaders to prioritize people and the planet over profits and geopolitical power. The conference is taking place against the backdrop of deadly climate-related disasters, including heat waves and floods, and an energy crisis triggered by the Iran war.