MEP delegation to push for faster fossil fuel phase-out at COP31 in Türkiye
A Parliament delegation arrives in Türkiye on Monday to attend the UN Climate Change Summit and push for implementation of climate commitments.
Next week from 16 to 20 November, an official European Parliament delegation will take part in the UN Climate Change Conference, COP31, in Antalya. The delegation is led by Lídia Pereira (EPP, PT), with Heléne Fritzon (S&D, SE) as vice-chair.
The European Parliament adopted its position on COP31 on 22 October 2026. At COP31, the MEPs will meet with ministers, parliamentarians and other delegates from key non-EU countries, including the COP31 hosts Türkiye and Australia, and the United States, China, India and Brazil. They will also meet UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Chair Jim Skea, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme Inger Andersen, and civil society representatives.
A press conference with delegation chair Lídia Pereira and EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra will take place on Wednesday 18 November from 14.00 to 14.30 Türkiye time (12.00–12.30 CET). It can be followed live here.
The European Parliament is also organising two side events:
- On Wednesday 18 November from 15.00 to 16.00 Türkiye time (13.00–14.00 CET), a side event on “Transitioning away from fossil fuels for a clean energy future – preparations for Global Stocktake 2” is being organised with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) at the Finland Pavilion.
- On Thursday 19 November from 13.15 to 14.30 Türkiye time (11.15–12.30 CET), a side event on “Electrification for energy security and for economic and climate resilience” will be held at the EU Pavilion.
Quotes
“COP31 must be the COP of implementation. We need to move beyond general declarations towards action, investment and measurable results, while recognising that countries are not all equally equipped to move at the same pace. The challenge is to reconcile economic growth, productivity and prosperity with the planet’s limits. Europe has a real opportunity to turn decarbonisation into a driver of economic growth,” says Lídia Pereira (EPP, PT), delegation chair.
“It’s time to close the gap between the promise of the Paris Agreement and what the world is delivering. All countries must do their share to bring down emissions, and the EU needs to lead by example. COP31 must deliver an agreement on phasing out fossil fuels, and speeding up electrification and investments in green energy. This is not only necessary to tackle the climate crisis. It’s also a question of security, energy sovereignty and affordability. We have already seen the devastating effects of extreme weather events induced by climate change, we cannot afford more empty promises,” says Heléne Fritzon (S&D, SE), vice-chair of the delegation.
Background
COP31 is taking place in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026. Türkiye holds the COP31 presidency, with Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum as President, while Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, is President of Negotiations.
In February 2026, Parliament approved an amendment to the European Climate Law setting a legally binding target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, with at least 85% to be achieved within the EU. The law entered into force in April 2026.
Parliament is a co-legislator on EU energy and climate legislation, which seeks to implement the Paris Agreement, and before the EU can enter international agreements Parliament must give its consent.
