ANTALYA, Türkiye, November 13: World leaders have placed resilient and sustainable cities at the centre of global climate action, calling for faster investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, energy-efficient buildings and urban adaptation as the COP31 summit entered its second day.
More than 100 national leaders took part in discussions on strengthening cities against climate threats, including flooding, extreme heat and infrastructure damage, while seeking to translate national climate commitments into practical projects.
The focus on urban resilience comes as more than half of the world’s population lives in cities, which are increasingly exposed to the impacts of climate change.
At a high-level dialogue on Urban Resilience, Adaptation and Climate Action, convened by the COP31 Presidency and UN-Habitat, leaders discussed ways to turn national climate and adaptation plans into investment-ready projects for cities and local communities.
COP31 President Murat Kurum said climate action must deliver tangible benefits where people live, including safer communities, energy-efficient homes, stronger infrastructure and better protection against climate impacts.
“By bringing governments, cities, investors and businesses together in Antalya, we can move faster from ambition to action and make climate progress visible in people’s everyday lives,” he said.
Energy-efficient buildings take priority
A major outcome of the discussions was the endorsement of the Antalya Compact for Energy Efficient Buildings, aimed at accelerating the transition towards more efficient and electrified buildings.
The compact supports two COP31 Presidency targets for 2035: pursuing a 25 percent reduction in the operational energy intensity of the global building stock and accelerating efficient electrification of buildings under the Presidency’s 35-by-35 target.
The summit also recognised six sustainable building projects selected through two international competitions organised by Türkiye with support from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)-hosted Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction and the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate.
Meanwhile, the COP31 zero-waste agenda is being advanced through the Istanbul Zero Waste Action Platform, with an initial group of 20 international Zero Waste Districts testing approaches to waste reduction, reuse, repair and recycling at neighbourhood level.
The initiative aims to expand the network to 100 districts, while measuring environmental benefits, including reductions in methane emissions.
Another initiative, the Sustainable Urban Resilience Financing Facility (SURFF), is designed to help governments and cities turn climate resilience priorities into bankable projects, mobilise public and private investment and strengthen local implementation capacity.
$15bn Türkiye-China renewable energy deal
The push to turn climate commitments into investment was reinforced by a major renewable energy cooperation agreement between Türkiye and China.
Signed with China’s National Energy Administration, the agreement envisages approximately $15 billion in investment in Türkiye, including 7,000 megawatts of new solar and wind power capacity, energy storage systems and 4,000MW of electricity transmission capacity.
It will also facilitate technology transfer and local manufacturing of wind turbine equipment in Türkiye.
The agreement highlights the growing role of international partnerships and private investment in accelerating the global energy transition.
The COP31 Business Forum also opened on Thursday, bringing together more than 600 chief executives and senior business leaders representing nearly 300 organisations to discuss investment opportunities in electrification, resilient cities and green industrialisation.
The COP31 Presidency also launched the Least Developed Countries Green Industrialisation Facilitation Mechanism (LDC-GIF), aimed at connecting green industrial projects in least developed countries with technology, technical assistance and financing.
Led by Türkiye, with the UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries serving as its secretariat, the mechanism began with 10 pilot countries.
Separately, the Türkiye Industry Decarbonisation Investment Platform announced projects set to receive up to $250 million from the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), supporting its ambition to mobilise more than $6 billion by 2030.
The CIF also announced up to $190 million in adaptation financing for five countries and a region under its Accelerating Resilience Investments and Innovations for Sustainable Economies (ARISE) programme.
Pacific nations seek greater climate finance
The vulnerability of Pacific island nations to rising sea levels and climate-related disasters also featured prominently in the summit discussions, with leaders calling for greater access to finance and stronger recognition of locally led adaptation initiatives.
COP31 President of Negotiations Chris Bowen described climate change as an existential threat to the Pacific, warning that it was already putting lives, livelihoods, cultures and the future of nations at risk.
He said the international community must respond with resilience measures at the scale and speed required, supported by accessible finance and practical action.
The Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), established and managed by Pacific leaders, has secured more than $200 million in pledges to finance community-centred adaptation and resilience programmes across Pacific island countries.
Among the latest developments, the Minderoo Foundation became the facility’s first philanthropic donor at COP31, pledging $5 million.
The United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Marshall Islands were also among those announcing new pledges in 2026.