Antalya:Tunis Tunisia is gearing up for a critical role in the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), scheduled for November 9-20 at the Antalya Exhibition Centre in Turkey. A diverse delegation from Tunisia, including experts, delegates, and young negotiators, aims to champion the country's climate priorities and forge new partnerships to support its environmental initiatives.
According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse – English, Tunisia plans to participate actively in the negotiations within the African Group, the Arab Group, and the Group of 77 and China. The focus will be on defending Tunisia's climate priorities, identifying its financing needs, and exploring opportunities for international collaboration to support its climate projects. The major challenge for Tunisia is converting the commitments outlined in its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) into tangible investments and feasible projects that will positively impact the economy and improve citizens' living conditions.
The COP31 conference, themed "From commitments to action," will be co-chaired by Turkey and Australia, represented by their respective ministers of environment and climate change. The first week will concentrate on technical discussions related to emission mitigation, adaptation, and climate finance, while the second week will involve political leaders and government representatives to resolve outstanding issues requiring political decisions.
Tunisia, classified among countries most vulnerable to climate change effects, such as drought and sea-level rise, is advocating for significant progress in climate action financing mechanisms. The nation's investment needs for climate adaptation and emission reduction are estimated at approximately $55 billion over the 2026-2035 period, with a significant portion earmarked for the water and agriculture sectors. Tunisia is seeking international financing to cover 74% of these needs and aims to improve access to concessional climate resources, particularly for water security, agriculture, and coastal protection projects.
In preparation for COP31, Tunisia's National Climate Change Coordination Unit organized a workshop to enhance the capacities of the negotiators and coordinate the delegation's participation. The Tunisian delegation anticipates that discussions at the summit will focus on climate finance, adaptation, just transition, and other critical issues, with an emphasis on implementing financial commitments and avoiding further indebtedness of vulnerable countries.
The conference will also address the challenge of translating commitments to triple adaptation financing into practical mechanisms, as well as the sensitive issue of fossil fuel phase-out and deforestation. The just transition mechanism, aimed at facilitating a shift to a low-emission economy, will also be a key topic, with a focus on ensuring that workers and communities do not bear the cost alone and are supported through vocational retraining and job creation initiatives.