Israel Absent From UN Climate Summit Amid Security Concerns and Turkey Ties

The 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) opened today in Antalya, Turkey, with over 190 nations in attendance, but Israel is completely absent, with no political or professional representation. This absence is attributed to a lack of security approval for participation and strained relations between host Turkey and Israel. In the past year, former Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman attempted to withdraw Israel from the Climate Convention, and her ministry minimized its engagement with the issue. The official responsible for the climate portfolio in recent years has also resigned.

The conference convenes amidst alarming climate trends. 2026 is shaping up to be one of the hottest years on record, with the world heading towards a catastrophic 2.8 degrees Celsius warming. Scientists warn that even a temporary exceedance of the 1.5-degree target set by the Paris Agreement could cause irreversible damage to glaciers and ice sheets. The World Meteorological Organization reported that the average global temperature from January to September 2026 was 1.47 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Sea levels have reached a record high, and the intensifying El Niño is expected to peak in December.

Globally, political engagement at the summit appears diminished compared to previous years. Fewer world leaders are attending, with only 77 heads of state and government scheduled to speak, down from 116 at the Dubai conference in 2023. The Trump administration did not send official delegates, though a delegation of 19 members of Congress, led by Sean Casten, will attend, with Casten stating that "America has spoken" and will return to negotiations. A coalition of over 100 governors, mayors, and local officials will also be present.

Host country Turkey faces criticism for its climate policies, ranked as "critically insufficient" by Climate Action Tracker. Turkey's carbon emissions are projected to rise, and the country relies heavily on coal without a clear plan to phase it out. Human Rights Watch reported that Turkish authorities have arrested environmental activists. The main sponsor of the conference is Koç Holding, a conglomerate whose energy arm, including the Tüpraş refinery, contributed significantly to its revenue. This pattern of host nations with questionable environmental records and human rights concerns for activists has been noted in previous conferences, including Egypt, the UAE, and Azerbaijan.

Israel, which previously viewed the conference as a prestigious diplomatic platform, has withdrawn entirely. Last year, only two junior representatives from the Ministry of Environmental Protection attended due to strained relations with host Brazil. A senior official in the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Gil Proaktor, who led the climate portfolio, recently resigned, and Silman diverted significant budgets away from climate-related activities.