COP31 Themes and Priorities and Thematic Days

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COP31, hosted by Tรผrkiye in Antalya in 2026, is positioned as an Implementation COP — shifting focus from negotiations to turning climate commitments into concrete actions 

It builds on the first Global Stocktake and aims to bridge the gap between policy ambition and on-the-ground delivery.

Core Principles

  • No duplication but complementarity: aligning with existing initiatives.
  • Prioritizing implementation gaps: focusing on areas where policy has not yet translated into measurable action.
  • Inclusive ownership: reflecting priorities of countries at all development levels.

10 Priority Themes (Action Agenda) iclei.org+2

  1. Zero Waste – Scaling circular economy solutions, reducing methane from waste, preventing food loss and waste.

  2. Oceans and Seas – Enhancing marine ecosystem resilience, blue carbon, ocean observation, and regional cooperation.

  3. Food Safety – Transforming agriculture and food systems, addressing water and drought risks.

  4. Climate-Resilient Cities – Sustainable buildings, resilient infrastructure, green certification, and reducing building sector energy intensity.

  5. Climate Action Implementation Mechanism – Strong national architectures, bankable project pools, and financing structures.

  6. Youth and Education – Climate literacy, green jobs, and mobilizing young people for climate action.

  7. Green Industrialization – International coordination, transparency, and support for low-carbon industrial transformation.

  8. Clean Energy Transition – Electrification, grid optimization, sustainable cooling, clean cooking, and digitalization.

  9. Rio Synergy – Carbon sinks, biodiversity protection, and ecosystem restoration.

  10. Dynamic and Resilient Health Systems – Climate-resilient health infrastructure, clean air, and protecting vulnerable groups.

Thematic Days

Purpose of Thematic Days

The Thematic Days structure allows COP31 to highlight priority sectors that play a critical role in addressing climate change. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, these days foster collaboration, promote innovation, and encourage practical solutions across sectors.

The programme will feature ministerial dialogues, expert panels, business forums, and partnership announcements aligned with the conference’s core climate priorities.

The thematic programme day by day

  • 9 November — Food, Agriculture and Health - Agriculture and Food Security · Irrigation and Water Efficiency · Food Systems · Climate Change and Health
  • 10 November — Energy and Transport - Energy Security · Electrification · Grid Infrastructure · Energy Diversification and Efficiency · Sustainable Transport
  • 11 November — Zero Waste — Zero Waste · Resource Efficiency · Methane · Circular Economy  --- Leaders Summit Day 1
  • 12 November — Resilient Cities and Built Environment — Climate-Friendly Buildings · Settlements and Urban Resilience · Disaster Risk Management · Local Governments · Smart Cities · Nature-Based Solutions · Smart Mobility · Built Environment and Infrastructure · Sustainable Waste Systems--Leaders Summit Day 2
  • 13 November — Finance and Trade - Green Transformation · Climate-Based Investment · Green Finance · Value Chains · Carbon Markets
  • 14 November — Children, Youth, Education and Skills - Climate Literacy and Education · Green Skills and Workforce · Academia · Curriculum Development · Lifelong Learning
  • 15 November — A Breath in Antalya (social and cultural programmes)
  • 16 November — Science, Industry and Technology - Science · Green Industrialisation · Technology and Innovation · SMEs · Digitalisation · Artificial Intelligence · Low-Carbon Manufacturing
  • 17 November — Ocean, Seas, Nature and Land Use — Rio Synergy - Ocean and Marine Ecosystems · Inland Water Ecosystems · Coastal Resilience · Blue Economy · Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services · Forest and Ecosystem Restoration
  • 18 November — Human and Social Development - Tourism · Cultural Heritage · Employment and Livelihoods · Traditional and Local Knowledge · Vulnerable Groups · Persons with Disabilities · Women's Empowerment · Just Transition
  • 19 November — ฤฐmece: Enhancing Implementation - Institutional and Technical Capacity Building · Investment-Ready Projects · Access to Finance
  • 20 November — Final Negotiations
A programme that connects policy with practice
The Thematic Days bring together ministerial dialogues, expert panels, business forums and partnership announcements, aiming to connect policy with practice and accelerate the implementation of climate commitments.

The full programme is available on the Thematic Days page.

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