From ambition to implementation: What to expect from COP31
Introduction
COP31, the latest in the regular series of UN climate change meetings, takes place in Antalya, Türkiye, at a moment of growing urgency for climate action. Around the world, extreme heat, flooding, drought and wildfires are affecting people and economies, disrupting infrastructure, supply chains and food systems.
COPs (which stands for ‘Conferences of the Parties’) remain the central global forum for collective action on climate change. Since the Paris Agreement established a broad framework for action in 2015, subsequent meetings have focused on refining the rules, assessing progress and providing a platform for governments, business and civil society to build momentum around particular areas of action.
Global ambition can be constrained by the need for consensus, but COPs’ significance increasingly lies not only in negotiated outcomes but also in providing a platform for new signals, coalitions and initiatives they can enable. COP30 in Belém illustrated this tension: it advanced adaptation, just transition and climate finance, but did not agree an explicit roadmap for moving away from fossil fuels.
Therefore, COP31 will be judged less by the negotiated text it produces and more by its ability to accelerate implementation, investment and real-world delivery against a backdrop of pressure on energy and food security. The opportunity is not only to influence negotiations but also to help build the coalitions, investment pathways and market conditions needed to scale solutions.
For CISL, the central question is how policy, finance, business leadership and market reform can create the conditions for solutions to scale and accelerate the transition to a resilient, competitive and sustainable economy.
For more details of CISL’s events and engagements please see the COP31 hub on our website.
Who this briefing is for
This briefing is a short, accessible overview for a broad global audience across business, finance, policy, and sustainability, setting out why COP31 matters and the key developments to watch out for.
For businesses looking for a deeper analysis of the COP31 policy landscape, what it means for business, and opportunities to engage, access the Corporate Leaders Groups’ Navigating COP31 policy briefing.
What to watch at COP31
Mitigation and the transition away from fossil fuels
Mitigation remains politically contentious, with the transition away from fossil fuels a key unresolved issue following COP30. COP31 will test whether countries can make further progress, while practical transition initiatives continue to develop alongside the formal negotiations.
Clean electrification
For many policymakers and businesses, the events of 2026 have reinforced the view that the energy transition is not only a climate imperative, but also as a resilience, security and competitiveness strategy. Electrification has emerged early on as the defining theme of the COP31 Action Agenda, connecting emissions reduction with energy security, competitiveness and resilience. Attention will focus on whether ambition can translate into investment and deployment across clean power, grids, storage, transport, buildings and industry.
Adaptation and resilience
As climate impacts intensify, adaptation and resilience is likely to be one of the most prominent negotiating issues at COP31, particularly for climate-vulnerable countries and small island states. Access to finance and support for practical resilience measures will be important areas of discussion.
Finance and implementation
Governments, businesses and investors will continue discussions on accelerating the shift from fossil fuels, scaling renewable energy and improving energy efficiency. Following years of negotiations centred on targets and commitments, attention is increasingly turning towards implementation and delivery.
For deeper analysis of these issues, including mitigation, climate finance, adaptation and just transition, the CLG Navigating COP31 policy briefing, written to brief members of our Corporate Leaders Groups, explores the negotiations and implications for business in greater detail.
Making Markets Fit for the Future
COP31 will reinforce a central challenge for climate action: viable solutions will not scale unless markets reward their adoption.
Through our Making Markets Fit for the Future agenda, CISL is exploring how policy, finance, business leadership and institutional reform can reshape the conditions in which companies and investors operate. That means moving beyond isolated commitments to create economies in which sustainable choices become more competitive, investable and scalable.
Supporting business engagement at COP31
Business has a critical role in translating climate ambition into implementation, through investment, innovation and practical delivery. COP31 provides an important opportunity for companies to engage policymakers, contribute evidence on what is working and help identify the barriers preventing solutions from scaling.
CISL will be represented at COP31 across our Corporate Leaders Groups, Centre for Sustainable Finance and Aviation Impact Accelerator, engaging with businesses, policymakers, investors and partners around the priorities for accelerating implementation.
How we can support your organisation
For businesses looking to understand what COP31 means for them and how they can engage, CISL’s Corporate Leaders Groups provide policy intelligence, tailored engagement support and opportunities to contribute to policy and stakeholder discussions. Members receive dedicated support through the network, while selected resources and opportunities to engage are also available to the wider business community.
Tailored COP31 engagement support
We provide tailored support to help businesses understand the evolving policy landscape, identify relevant opportunities to engage and develop an approach aligned with their business and policy priorities.
Interested in COP31 engagement support?
COP31 policy intelligence and resources
We provide intelligence on key COP31 developments, their implications for business and opportunities for engagement. Corporate Leaders Groups members receive dedicated briefings and analysis, with selected resources also available to the wider business community through a short registration form.
Practical resources to support business engagement on climate adaptation and resilience.