Climate meet begins, report says 2026 among warmest years ever

Why in News

COP31 opened in Antalya, Türkiye, as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that January–September 2026 was approximately 1.47°C warmer than the 1850–1900 average.

Prelims Pointers

• COP31 is the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

1. Türkiye hosts the conference and holds its presidency.

2. Australia serves as President of Negotiations.

• COP themes and slogans across years:

1. COP26 — 2021, Glasgow, United Kingdom: “Together for Our Planet”.

2. COP27 — 2022, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt: “Together for Implementation”.

3. COP28 — 2023, Dubai, United Arab Emirates: “Unite. Act. Deliver.”

4. COP29 — 2024, Baku, Azerbaijan: “In Solidarity for a Green World”.

5. COP30 — 2025, Belém, Brazil: Global Mutirão (a collective effort against climate change.)

• The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, seeks to:

1. Hold warming well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

2. Pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.

• Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) were countries’ proposed climate-action plans before joining the Paris Agreement.

1. A previously submitted INDC generally became the country’s first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) upon joining, unless the country indicated otherwise.

Prelims Traps

• “The Paris Agreement’s temperature goal uses present-day temperatures as its baseline.” This is incorrect. It uses pre-industrial temperatures as the reference. (UPSC Prelims 2016)

• “Intended Nationally Determined Contributions concern capital contributed to an international development bank.” This is incorrect. INDCs outline countries’ plans to combat climate change. (UPSC Prelims 2016)