COP31 Antalya Protest Draws Thousands at Midpoint
Thousands of protesters marched through downtown Antalya on Saturday as the COP31 Antalya protest put the summit’s midpoint into sharp focus. Police estimated more than 7,000 people took part, in the largest demonstration since the talks began on Monday. Organisers put the figure at about 10,000.
The marchers, dressed in costumes and shouting slogans under rainy skies and close police supervision, accused the summit of failing the people who suffer most from climate change.
What happened at the COP31 Antalya protest
Protesters carried bird effigies and placards in a rally organised by environmental groups, trade unions and rights groups. They passed police searches before joining, and the rally went ahead without any major incident.
Halime Saman, from the People’s Climate Summit platform, one of the groups behind the rally, said the voices of those hit hardest were still not being heard inside the summit halls.
“We are suffering the consequences of climate injustice, yet our voices are never heard at the COP,” she told AFP.
She pointed out that Turkiye, which co-chairs COP31, still has no roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, while new power stations and coal mines keep opening.
Yasar Gokoglu, 78, travelled nearly 600 kilometres from Adana in southern Turkiye to join the march. He described the summit as “a masquerade sponsored by monopolies”.
A march with a rights message too
The protest also carried a message about rights in Turkiye. Civil society groups had raised safety concerns before COP31 after a September crackdown on the LGBT community, and on Saturday LGBT protesters waving rainbow flags marched in the rally. Smaller demonstrations have also taken place inside the venue this week, including one attended by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
Talks reach halfway with little agreed
The protest came as negotiators reached the halfway point of COP31 on Saturday, with nearly 200 countries trying to strike a deal by Friday, when the summit closes on November 20.
Countries remain far apart on financing adaptation in developing nations, defending climate science, and shifting away from fossil fuels. The summit is not expected to produce a major breakthrough, frustrating activists who want tougher curbs on fossil fuels and fresh pledges for poorer countries.
Australia’s climate minister, Chris Bowen, who chairs the formal negotiations, said there had been “really good and positive conversations” but that some issues needed more time. UN climate chief Simon Stiell said there was no easy fix. “There’s no climate quick fix. No single COP can magic this crisis away, but each must drive progress,” he said.
What Pakistan asked for at COP31
Pakistan used its platform at the summit to set out what climate-vulnerable countries need. At the Pakistan Pavilion, Barrister Danyal Chaudhry, parliamentary secretary for information and broadcasting, addressed a dialogue titled “Adapting Under Austerity: Delivering Paris Commitments in Debt-Stressed, Climate-Vulnerable Economies”.
He presented five parliamentary recommendations for climate-vulnerable, debt-stressed nations. First, climate-proof fiscal and tax policy by requiring climate impact assessments for major financial decisions.
Second, keep renewable-energy policy stable and predictable, so it does not penalise households and businesses investing in clean energy.
Third, treat adaptation as an investment, not an expense, pointing to climate-resilient farming, water management, early warning systems and disaster-resistant infrastructure.
Fourth, reform global debt rules through debt-for-climate swaps, climate-contingent clauses, concessional financing and longer repayment terms, so disaster-prone countries are not forced to “sacrifice essential development”.
Fifth, strengthen parliamentary oversight of climate finance, with annual reports on climate taxes, subsidies, budget allocations and adaptation outcomes, and keep fiscal policy aligned with Pakistan’s climate pledges and National Adaptation Plan.
Chaudhry said past policies introduced in the name of fiscal consolidation had raised taxes and discouraged climate-resilient development. He said the world must “function as one global village and one global family”, with no separate standards for wealthy and developing nations.
Why this matters for Pakistan
Pakistan ranks among the countries hit hardest by climate change, and has pressed that case at every COP since the 2022 floods. For many Pakistanis, the damage already feels irreversible, as a recent survey found. The costs keep rising: a United Nations warning this week said El Nino could double the price of climate disasters.
The midpoint also brought a dispute over climate science into the open. Negotiators clashed over the IPCC’s latest findings, a row that goes to the heart of whether the talks will deliver anything firm. Pakistan has also used the summit to push clean energy at home. The prime minister has linked solar power to the country’s climate plans.
Whether the final week produces a deal that helps countries like Pakistan will be clear by Friday. For the thousands who marched, the message was simpler: the talks must deliver for the people already paying the price of a warming planet.
Frequently asked questions
How many people joined the COP31 protest in Antalya?
Police estimated more than 7,000 people took part on Saturday, 14 November. Organisers put the figure at about 10,000. It was the largest demonstration since COP31 began on Monday, 9 November.
What did the protesters demand?
They accused COP31 of failing the people who suffer most from climate change and demanded tougher curbs on fossil fuels and fresh pledges to help poorer countries adapt.
What did Pakistan ask for at COP31?
Barrister Danyal Chaudhry presented five recommendations at the Pakistan Pavilion: climate-proof fiscal policies, stable support for renewable energy, treating adaptation as an investment, reform of global debt rules, and stronger parliamentary oversight of climate finance.
When does COP31 end?
The summit in Antalya closes on Friday, 20 November, with negotiators aiming to reach a deal by then.
Why is no breakthrough expected?
Countries remain far apart on financing adaptation, defending climate science and shifting from fossil fuels, against a difficult backdrop of energy pressures and geopolitical tensions.
