In brief

• Germany's environment minister Carsten Schneider wants concrete results at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey, running November 9 to 20.
• Schneider backs Turkey's goal of raising electricity's share of final energy use from about 20 to 35 percent by 2035.
• Germany is represented only by Schneider, while the United States is not taking part.

Germany pushes for measurable results

German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) has said the faster global emissions fall, the sooner the world can bring temperatures back toward 1.5 degrees Celsius (COP31 - Schneider (SPD) hofft auf konkrete Ergebnisse bei Klimakonferenz – Deutschlandfunk). He also argued that societies must better protect people from heat, drought and flooding (Weltklimakonferenz in Antalya: Bundesumweltminister drängt auf Ergebnisse bei Weltklimakonferenz – ZEIT ONLINE).

Schneider framed the climate fight as an economic question as well. Price shocks for petrol, diesel and gas, he said, give countries a strong new reason to rethink their economic models, since about three quarters of humanity lives in states that rely on fossil imports (UNO-Klimakonferenz - Guterres: "Alle müssen mehr tun - und zwar jetzt" – Deutschlandfunk).

Turkey's electrification goal

Schneider backed the host country's initiative to raise the share of electricity in final energy use from about 20 percent today to 35 percent by 2035. Energy efficiency is among the other measures he has highlighted.

Who is attending

Schneider is the only German minister travelling to the conference, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz will not attend. The United States is not taking part. Under President Donald Trump, the world's second-largest greenhouse gas emitter has largely withdrawn from international climate policy.

What is at stake

UN Secretary-General António Guterres told delegates that everyone must do more, and do it now, calling the moment a test of truth. He said the 1.5-degree target of the Paris Agreement remains reachable, but that too much carbon dioxide is already entering the atmosphere. He criticised political systems that lack a long-term strategy, noting that frequently changing policies make steady investment harder. He pointed to the global expansion of wind and solar power as a source of hope.

The talks run from November 9 to 20 in the Mediterranean city of Antalya, with Australia leading the negotiations (As COP31 Antalya kicks off, can world move beyond big promises? – DW). Delegates are expected to address how to move away from coal, oil and gas, a question that has returned to the agenda each year.