COP31: Opening day puts health and heat risk in focus

COP31, the 31st UN Climate Change Conference, opened on November 9 in Antalya, Türkiye. Over the next two weeks, almost 200 nations will meet under a unique partnership between Türkiye and Australia, with Türkiye holding the COP31 Presidency and Australia acting as President of Negotiations. Day one carried a clear message on delivery with COP31 President Murat Kurum saying it is “high time to translate words and promises into actions.”

The theme of Food, Agriculture and Health, put human health at the center of the debate. UN climate chief Simon Stiell said COP31 must help scale up solutions and mobilize finance, while EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra called for a focus on turning existing commitments into concrete progress and implementation.

For businesses, the early direction of COP31 is towards implementation, with greater focus on how climate commitments translate into investment, infrastructure and resilience across economies and supply chains.

Health moves to the heart of climate planning

Stiell called the climate crisis “a global health crisis of pandemic proportions.” At the health day ministerial he urged countries to build health into national adaptation plans, finance and progress tracking. Can clinics stay open through a heatwave? Do they have safe water after a flood? The Climate & Health Funders Coalition has also announced that it has awarded more than $225 million to more than 20 programmes in its first year.

Why it matters: Health resilience is likely to shape procurement, infrastructure spending and finance criteria. Julia Gillard, chair of Wellcome, told the FT that this is the first COP to open with a dedicated health day. Healthcare, energy, water and infrastructure providers could see new opportunities.

Record heat makes physical risk immediate

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said global average surface temperature from January to September was about 1.47°C above the pre-industrial average. The WMO warned that an exceptionally strong El Niño is expected to increase the risk of extreme heat, drought and heavy rain well into 2027.

Rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather are increasing risks to health, livelihoods and food security. Proven solutions, including clean energy and heat early-warning systems, will require greater investment as governments seek to strengthen resilience to these impacts.

Why it matters: Businesses should test their operations, assets and supply chains against heat, drought and flood exposure. Agriculture, food, insurance and employers of outdoor workers are most exposed.

Electrification and energy security take center stage

Kurum is rallying support for a proposed “35 by 35” global electrification target, under which electricity would meet 35% of global final energy consumption by 2035, up from around a fifth today. He argued that this year’s energy crisis shows “energy independence is important for everyone.” The EU is pushing for faster electrification alongside greater deployment of clean energy and investment in the transition. Investors in grids, storage, generation and electric vehicle (EV) charging should watch the final wording closely.

Why it matters: The push for electrification could create significant opportunities across grids, storage, clean power and EV infrastructure, while making energy security and access to reliable electricity increasingly important for businesses and investors.

Food security moves up the agenda

Food systems were another focus on day one, with discussions highlighting how climate impacts and price volatility are increasingly putting pressure on farmers and global food supply chains. Attention turned to practical measures to build resilience, including climate-resilient inputs, better access to finance and stronger market access.

Why it matters: For food and agriculture businesses, the focus on resilience has implications for sourcing, supply chains and investment, particularly in areas exposed to heat, drought and other climate risks.

What happens next

Energy and Transport take the spotlight on November 10, followed by the World Leaders Climate Action Summit on November 11 and 12. Zero Waste is also a key focus on November 11, one of Türkiye’s flagship priorities. Given Türkiye’s significant role as a destination for EU plastic waste exports, developments will be particularly relevant for packaging, recycling and waste businesses. The Just Transition Mechanism will also be one to follow, including debate around human rights safeguards and critical mineral supply chains, with implications for mining, battery and EV businesses.

Further reading on COP31

Stay up to date with our daily COP31 briefings over the next two weeks on our COP31 hub here.