Cop31 host urges wealthy countries to spend ‘much more’ on climate than defence
The president-designate of COP31 has urged wealthy nations to prioritize climate funding over defense spending, arguing that climate change is a fundamental security issue. However, the Turkish minister remained non-committal on specific fossil fuel transition agreements.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between geopolitical security concerns and the urgent need for global climate finance and policy commitments.
From left to right: Fiji’s climate minister, Lynda Tabuya; Turkey’s climate minister, Murat Kurum; Australia’s climate minister, Chris Bowen; and Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, at the pre-Cop31 summit in Fiji./Getty Images From left to right: Fiji’s climate minister, Lynda Tabuya; Turkey’s climate minister, Murat Kurum; Australia’s climate minister, Chris Bowen; and Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, at the pre-Cop31 summit in Fiji./Getty Images Cop31 Cop31 host urges wealthy countries to spend ‘much more’ on climate than defence ‘The climate issue is the security issue,’ says Turkish minister at Pacific pre-Cop summit in Fiji
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