UN climate negotiations

A campaign is calling for national delegations to the COP31 climate summit to exclude fossil fuel lobbyists entirely. The push aims to prevent oil, gas and coal industry representatives from influencing negotiations at the UN climate talks. Advocates argue industry presence undermines the credibility and ambition of the summit's outcomes.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is keeping up his public warnings on climate change, refusing to soften his message despite political pushback. He continues to press governments to cut emissions faster and phase out fossil fuels, framing the climate crisis as an emergency that cannot be ignored. Observers note his increasingly blunt language as global climate talks stall.

UN Climate Change has introduced a new strategy for its Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action (ECCA) initiative ahead of the COP31 climate summit. The plan focuses on leveraging creativity from the entertainment and culture sectors to drive public engagement and climate action. Observers see it as an effort to broaden the reach of climate diplomacy beyond formal negotiations.

The European Union is taking part in the FAO's Committee on Forestry and the 10th World Forest Week, meetings at the UN food and agriculture agency in Rome focused on global forest policy. The EU delegation is expected to press for sustainable forest management, stronger action against deforestation, and closer international cooperation on forest protection. Attention is on how the bloc's forest agenda aligns with its wider climate and biodiversity commitments.