Press Release

Media advisory: UNU climate experts available to discuss negotiations, climate science and real-world solutions at COP 31

On site in Antalya, United Nations University scientists can explain negotiations, provide background and contextualize many of the big debates.

What: United Nations University experts available for interviews and commentary

When: By appointment.

Where: COP 31 in Antalya, Turkiye, or remotely

Who: Senior experts from United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and United Nations University – Vice-Rectorate in Europe (UNU-VIE) focusing on topics of climate change adaptation, loss and damage, energy transition, cities and resilience, climate justice and more. UNU serves as the global think tank of the United Nations. All experts can give interviews in English. Depending on the topic, other languages may also be possible (Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese, German).

Why: COP 31 has a packed agenda. UNU experts are available to provide expert analysis of the negotiations, explain the background and implications of key decisions, trends and emerging developments, contextualize many of the big debates with fact-based neutral information, and examine how climate commitments can translate into practical solutions for communities, ecosystems and economies.

Please find below a few examples of the topics our experts can speak on:

  1. Negotiations at COP 31: Key decisions and progress towards the Paris Agreement goals and the challenges of translating international commitments into measurable results. 
  2. Assessing the ambition and implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the risks of the 1.5°C overshoot scenario 
  3. Global Goal on Adaptation and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs): Operationalizing indicators and implementation of tripling adaptation finance by 2035 
  4. Climate Finance: Roadmap to $1.3 trillion and fair access for vulnerable countries and communities 
  5. Mitigation: Work programme & progress in implementing the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake follow-up & launch
  6. Loss and Damage: Expectations for Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM), Santiago Network for Loss and Damage (SNLD) and Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) 
  7. Roadmaps and Coalitions: Transition Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) 
  8. Climate justice, just transition: Operationalizing the Just Transition Mechanism 
  9. COP 31 Action Agenda: Energy and Electrification, Cities & Resilience, Rio Convention Synergies, Oceans & Seas and Food Security & Agriculture 

Additional resources and materials: 

Talk & Action: A daily COP 31 podcast produced by the United Nations University (UNU-EHS) and UN News, featuring conversations with scientists, policymakers, negotiators and other voices driving climate action to explore key developments, emerging trends and the science behind them. Episodes will be available through UN Podcasts and the United Nations and UNU-EHS YouTube channels, with full interview audio recordings available to media upon request.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

At COP 31 in Antalya, Turkiye:

Media hotline: + 49 151 2672 1390 (mobile calls, text messages, WhatsApp) or press@ehs.unu.edu

At COP 31 in Antalya, Turkiye: 

Austin Gonzales, Communication Assistant, gonzales@vie.unu.edu 
Arianna Flores Corral, Communication Analyst, flores-corral@vie.unu.edu

In Bonn, Germany: 

Nadine Hoffmann, Head of Communication, n.hoffmann@vie.unu.edu