Six out of seven G7 leaders are missing from the COP31 climate talks in Antalya, Turkey. Campaigners said, "I think it sends a strong message that they're not truly committed to making the kind of changes that we all need." Many vulnerable nations feel ignored as major emitters stay away.
This transcript was produced with AI technology that converts speech to text. The text is not always reviewed or edited by Reuters journalists and some errors may occur.
I'm in Antalya, Turkey for COP31, where many are asking where are the world's major leaders? 'The urgency of this moment must drive us forward.' The UN's annual climate talks are meant to bring the world together to discuss how to fight climate change, yet six out of the seven leaders from the G7 group of nations aren't here.
Speaker 2:
'I think it sends a strong message that they're not truly committed to making the kind of changes that we all need.'
Speaker 1:
Two of the most notable absences are the US and China, the world biggest emitters.
Speaker 3:
'You cannot have these discussions when the actual culprits are not part of the discussions' ''The withdrawal from the Paris Climate Treaty.'
Speaker 1:
President Donald Trump has been a long time skeptic of climate change and on his first day in office took the country out of Paris agreement on climate for the second time.
Speaker 2:
'The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes'
Speaker 1:
Perception that some of the richer countries are rowing back on their efforts in climate change has landed poorly with many of the vulnerable countries at COP.
Speaker 4:
'Pacific communities are already experiencing severe impacts in my home in the Marshall Islands and across other low lying atoll nations, rising seas are contributing to more frequent flooding, threatening homes, infrastructure, freshwater supplies and livelihoods.'
Speaker 3:
'Some of the decisions you make will not necessarily be binding to them, which actually is a sad reality.'
Speaker 1:
One hope lies with Brazil's recently re-elected leader, President Lula, who spoke at the Leaders Summit and called out many of his peers for their silence on climate issues. Despite the absence of many leaders, more than 90,000 people have registered to attend this COP, potentially making it the largest ever. Whether that turns into real progress though will be determined by the talks next week. [This transcript was produced with AI technology that converts speech to text. The text is not reviewed or edited by Reuters journalists and some errors may occur.]