COP31 Presidency runs a ‘Bad Jokes Boys Club’ while communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis have nothing to laugh about

ANTALYA, TÜRKIYE – As COP31 heads into its crucial final week, its leaders are making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen, Australia's COP31’s co-president of negotiations, were caught on a hot mic joking about phone radiation and “dicks” just before a business roundtable in Antalya. Then, at a press conference earlier today, came another punchline nobody was laughing at: Türkiye’s COP31 co-president Murat Kurum dismissed questions on the transition away from fossil fuels in the cover decision, telling reporters the issue had already been settled in the first Global Stocktake and urging the press not to focus on “insignificant words” – a statement that lands as a very bad joke for the communities paying the price of the climate crisis.

Meanwhile, civil society showed up in full force on the streets of Antalya today, in a stark message that those on the frontlines of this crisis have nothing to laugh about. The People’s Climate March brought together more than 10,000 people, according to organizers, calling for climate justice, for polluters to pay, and for an immediate end to the fossil fuel era.

Savio Carvalho is Managing Director, Campaigns & Networks at 350.org,

“While communities from the Pacific to Africa and beyond are drowning, burning and going broke paying for fossil fuel energy, the leaders of this COP are running a Bad Jokes Boys Club. Negotiation text to keep moving forward on the transition away from fossil fuels is not ‘insignificant words’. It’s one of the most important outcomes this summit can deliver. Türkiye and Australia are dodging it because they’re captured by fossil fuel interests at home. At the very least they need to commit to a presidency initiative to move forward the roadmaps to transition away from fossil fuels and get real about phasing out fossil fuels at home. The joke is on all of us if they walk away from Antalya without a plan. Stop laughing, start leading.”

The international appetite for action is growing, as discussions and statements by the UN Secretary-General and several country leaders showed this week. Now it’s time to match that momentum with political leadership to end fossil fuel dependence.

350.org is calling on all governments to develop national and regional roadmaps to phase out fossil fuels in a just, orderly, equitable and ambitious manner. It is also calling on the COP31 Presidencies to clearly and unequivocally commit to advancing the global roadmap for the transition away from fossil fuels, at COP31 and in the year ahead.

350.org urges the COP31 Presidencies and all governments to:

• Deliver a credible transition away from fossil fuels: Build on the momentum from COP30 and the Santa Marta conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels towards a just, orderly and equitable phase-out of coal, oil and gas.
• Make polluters pay: Introduce stronger, permanent taxes on fossil fuel companies’ profits and other measures to ensure fossil fuel companies contribute to climate recovery, adaptation and the transition to clean energy.
• Accelerate renewable-powered electrification: Expand wind and solar, strengthen electricity grids and storage, and ensure that electrification reduces fossil fuel dependence rather than reinforcing it.
• Deliver climate finance and a just transition: Ensure wealthier countries and major polluters provide the finance, technology and support needed by emerging economies and communities on the frontline of climate impacts.

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