COP31 pushes for fund in climate-resilient cities

The COP31 Presidency has stepped up efforts to turn national climate commitments into practical investments in cities and communities, focusing on energy-efficient buildings, urban resilience and green infrastructure.

At a High-Level Dialogue on Urban Resilience, Adaptation and Climate Action, convened by the COP31 Presidency and UN-Habitat, leaders discussed ways to translate national climate and adaptation plans into investment-ready projects.

COP31 President Murat Kurum said climate action must deliver tangible benefits where people live through safer communities, more efficient homes, stronger infrastructure and better protection against climate impacts.

He said bringing governments, cities, investors and businesses together in Antalya would help accelerate the transition from climate ambitions to practical action.

A key focus was the Antalya Compact for Energy Efficient Buildings, which aims to reduce the operational energy intensity of the global building stock by 25 per cent by 2035 and accelerate efficient electrification of buildings under the Presidency's 35-by-35 target.

COP31 also recognised six sustainable building projects worldwide for demonstrating how improved design and energy performance can reduce energy consumption.

Meanwhile, the Istanbul Zero Waste Action Platform is advancing neighbourhood-level initiatives on waste reduction, reuse, repair and recycling. Its first international cohort includes 20 districts, with a target of expanding the initiative to 100 districts.

The Presidency's Sustainable Urban Resilience Financing Facility (SURFF) will help countries and cities develop investment-ready projects, mobilise public and private financing and strengthen local implementation capacity.

The COP31 Business Forum also opened with more than 600 chief executives and senior business leaders from nearly 300 organisations to promote private-sector investment in electrification, resilient cities and green industrialisation.

In a major investment announcement, Türkiye and China signed a renewable energy agreement envisaging around $15 billion in investment in Türkiye. The deal includes 7,000MW of new solar and wind capacity, energy storage systems and 4,000MW of electricity transmission capacity, alongside technology transfer and local wind turbine equipment production.

The COP31 Presidency also launched the Least Developed Countries Green Industrialisation Facilitation Mechanism (LDC-GIF) to connect green industrial projects in least developed countries with technology, technical support and financing. Ten countries joined the initial pilot programme.

UN Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen said the Antalya Compact was an important step towards making energy-efficient and resilient buildings the global standard. She urged governments to translate the commitment into policies, investment and practical solutions to cut emissions and energy costs.