Greta Thunberg Slams Inaction at Cop31 as Nepal and UK Face Climate Fallout

UPDATE - follow-up to Cop31 live: 'No one is coming to rescue us,' Greta Thunberg tells climate summit: Swedish activist Greta Thunberg told the Cop31 climate talks in Antalya, Turkey, that the planet is not dying but being killed by the very people supposed to save it.

Summit Protests

Thunberg spoke at a packed press conference alongside activists from Nepal, Australia, Palestine, and Canada. She criticized governments for inaction and demanded an end to Turkish energy shipments to Israel, warning of future genocides and ecocides. This marked her first Cop appearance since Glasgow in 2021. Meanwhile, Nepal's environment minister, Gita Chaudhary, urged rich nations to provide predictable, grant-based financial aid following an August glacier collapse that killed over 1,500 people.

Fossil Fuel Legal Battles

Fossil fuel companies have sought $440bn from governments through Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanisms, according to research by PowerShift, Global Justice Now, and the European Trade Justice Coalition. Companies have been awarded a total of $86bn. Nick Dearden of Global Justice Now called the payouts obscene, while Fabian Flues of PowerShift urged countries to cancel these treaties.

UK Drilling Pressures

In the UK, the Green party is pressuring Prime Minister Andy Burnham over the health impacts of new North Sea oil and gas drilling. Green MP Carla Denyer called for a delay on the Rosebank oilfield decision until an NHS impact assessment is completed. An Oxfam study estimated that emissions from Rosebank and the Jackdaw gasfield would contribute to 65,495 excess heat deaths.

Context

Global climate summits bring together world leaders, activists, and experts each year to negotiate emission targets and financial support for vulnerable nations. Legal mechanisms like ISDS often conflict with domestic environmental policies, creating significant financial and political hurdles for governments attempting to transition away from fossil fuels.