Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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February 12, 2026 Climate and environment
Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and weakening trust in multilateralism, international climate cooperation can ensure security and economic prosperity, said Simon Steele, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
He spoke at a press conference in Istanbul as part of planning discussions for the 31st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP31), which will be held in Antalya. Steele thanked Turkey, the COP31 presidency designate, and Australia, as the chair of the negotiating track, for "valuable discussions."
The New "World Disorder"
The upcoming Climate Conference will take place in "extraordinary times," according to the head of the Climate Secretariat.
“We find ourselves in a new world disorder,” Steele said. “This is a period of instability and insecurity. An era of coercion and trade wars. The very concept of international cooperation is under attack".
Nevertheless, he emphasized, climate action can become a factor of resilience. "In the face of the current chaos, we can and must ensure a new era of international climate cooperation," Steele said.
From problem identification to the implementation stage
The Executive Secretary recalled that over the decades, global efforts to combat climate change have gone through several stages – from recognition of the problem itself to the development of agreements, includingParis Agreement.
"It didn't solve the climate crisis, but it changed our course," he said, adding that the agreement demonstrated the ability of countries to achieve breakthroughs when they act together.
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He also cited specific figures: in the ten years since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, investment in clean energy has increased tenfold – from 200 billion to more than two trillion dollars annually, and in 2025, investment in it will more than double investment in fossil fuels.
Now, he said, the world must actively advance the third stage – the stage of practical implementation.
“This is a phase of acceleration and scaling,” Steele emphasized.
What needs to be done
We are talking about the implementation of the agreements reached following the firstGlobal summing up: doubling energy efficiency, tripling clean energy capacity by 2030, a just transition away from fossil fuels, strengthening resilience and increasing financing for the most vulnerable countries and populations.
"By the second Global Stocktake in 2028, we must be on track to meet these commitments," the UNFCCC chief said.
© UNFCCC/D. Herculano
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Steele speaks at COP30 in Brazil.
Progress can be achieved through the rapid scaling of climate projects and partnerships between governments, financial institutions, and businesses, while simultaneously sharply increasing available financing, particularly for developing and vulnerable countries.
The executive secretary warned that failing to lead on climate would mean losing economic opportunities.
“Those who retreat from climate leadership are simply handing over this ‘gold mine’ of new jobs and the dividends from their creation to competing economies,” he noted.
Climate and safety
"Taking action on climate change is a contribution to overcoming the daily challenges faced by citizens around the world," he said.
The UN representative emphasized that climate cooperation is not an abstract goal, but a practical response to instability, as the consequences of climate change harm every person and the entire economy. This includes increased hunger, forced displacement, conflicts over resources, and distrust in governments that fail to provide citizens with the basic necessities.
Steele called it especially important access to electricity for developing countries, where hundreds of millions of people still live without it. Furthermore, climate action is necessary to ensure the world's population has enough food.
"Climate cooperation is the antidote to today's chaos and coercion," he said. "Renewable energy is the clearest and cheapest path to energy security and sovereignty," Steele added.
The path to KS-31
In conclusion, Steele emphasized that Turkey, as a crossroads of regions and diplomatic traditions, can become a platform for advancing common solutions. The UN, he added, will support the chairs "every step of the way" to ensure the success of the conference for the sake of people, prosperity, and the planet.
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