European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will address the COP31 leaders summit in Antalya today, setting out the European Union's climate priorities as the UN climate conference enters its leaders' day. She will take part in the opening session of the Antalya Leaders' Summit and later join the opening ceremony of the High-Level Segment for heads of state and government.

In a speech to the following plenary session, von der Leyen will outline the EU's climate priorities and commitments, according to the European External Action Service. The conference, COP31, runs in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November, the EEAS said.

What the EU wants from COP31

The EU arrives in Antalya pushing for faster global climate action and delivery on the goals of the Paris Agreement. Its priorities are continued work on cutting emissions and adapting to climate change, advancing the clean energy transition and reaching climate neutrality by mid-century.

A central part of that push is electrification powered by clean energy. The Electrify Now global campaign, launched earlier this year by the Commission and international partners, will continue its work at COP31, encouraging governments to expand wind and solar power and move away from fossil fuels. The EU negotiating team will also work towards putting into practice the climate adaptation indicators agreed at COP30 under the UAE-Belém Framework for Global Climate Resilience, helping countries track progress and strengthen preparedness.

The EU's climate targets

The EU points to a record it says shows climate action and economic growth can go together. It has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by almost 40 percent since 1990 while growing its economy by almost 70 percent, and it is making steady progress towards cutting emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 and by 90 percent by 2040, on the way to climate neutrality by 2050.

In 2025 the EU submitted a new Nationally Determined Contribution, pledging to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 66.25 to 72.5 percent below 1990 levels by 2035. The conference will also launch the second global stocktake of climate action under the Paris Agreement, assessing how far countries have come and what remains to be done, Open Access Government reported.

Who is negotiating for the EU

Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra will once again lead the EU negotiating team at COP31, working closely with the Irish Council Presidency and member states to deliver on the negotiating mandate adopted in October.

The EU is hosting a dedicated EU Pavilion for the first time since COP28, organising almost 40 side events showcasing its climate initiatives, clean technologies and environmental policies. Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica will attend on 13 and 14 November to officially launch the Climate Action Plan of the Union for the Mediterranean and related climate initiatives under the Pact for the Mediterranean.

Von der Leyen's appearance at the leaders summit is the EU's most visible moment of the conference so far. With the talks running until 20 November, the test for the EU delegation will be whether the pledges set out in Antalya today turn into agreed action on finance, adaptation and the clean energy transition before the summit closes.