World climate leaders pledged that this year's COP summit in Turkey would amount to more than mere discussion, with a firm emphasis on tangible action. More than 100,000 delegates from 197 countries have gathered in Antalya, on the Mediterranean coast, to tackle climate finance, the shift away from fossil fuels, and bolstering efforts to cut emissions. Ministers from Wales are expected to arrive on Wednesday.
Leaders call for action on the ground
"Our decisions must take shape in a city's infrastructure," President-delegate Murat Kurum declared in his opening address. "On a farmer's land and along a factory's production line. Families must feel their impact in lower energy bills."
UK Government representatives are also present at the conference, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham expected to travel to Antalya later in the week. A delegation of US State Governors and Congressional members are also in attendance, although the US Government has no official presence at COP for the second consecutive year, reports the Mirror.
Urgency after deadly floods
There is a profound sense of urgency surrounding this year's summit, which takes place just weeks after catastrophic flash floods in Nepal and Tibet resulted in at least 1,498 deaths, with many thousands more still unaccounted for. Scientists suggest that climate change is likely to have increased the probability of the disaster occurring.
For Wales, it follows a summer of weather extremes, including 38C temperatures and wildfires that became so out of control that the military was called in for support.
UN calls for accelerated action
Simon Steill, the United Nations Climate Change Executive Secretary, said: "The urgency of this moment must drive us forward. Global heating is already costing the Earth. Appalling tragedy has hit the Himalayas, adding to the ever-expanding catalogue hitting communities across every region."
He continued: "Meanwhile, this year's fossil fuel cost chaos has delivered a global shockwave, hitting households hard and spreading inflation like a cancer. The fall-out has been severe, both economically and politically, as we've just seen. But the solutions are clear: Global renewables saved around half a trillion dollars last year. And another $265 billion in the first half of this year alone."
