A Planet Fit for the Future
Restoring Trust through Climate Action
Special event convened by the President of the General Assembly ahead of COP31
16
October 2026
Friday
ECOSOC Chamber
United Nations Headquarters, New York
10 a.m.–1 p.m. and 3–5 p.m.
New York time
Both segments are webcast on UN Web TV: ·
UN Photo/Mukunda Bogati
Overview
Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference – known as COP31 – to be held in Antalya, T¨¹rkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026, the President of the General Assembly will convene a one-day event to provide Member States with an opportunity to exchange views on adaptation and resilience in response to the adverse effects of climate change, with a particular focus on strengthening early warning and preparedness.
UN Photo/OCHA/Mark Garten
Objectives
The event will provide an inclusive platform for Member States to exchange views, build political momentum and identify practical areas of convergence ahead of COP31. Discussions will address adaptation and resilience, loss and damage, climate finance, technology transfer, capacity-building and international cooperation. Particular attention will be given to the needs and circumstances of vulnerable countries, including least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and countries with low-lying coastal areas.
The event will also consider practical measures to strengthen risk knowledge, early warning, international cooperation, anticipatory action and last-mile preparedness in response to the adverse effects of climate change.
The one-day event will comprise an opening segment, statements by Member States and observers and an afternoon thematic segment featuring a moderated panel followed by an interactive discussion.
Programme
From the draft programme circulated with the President’s letter of 9 October 2026.
Segment I · 10 a.m.–1 p.m. ·
Priorities for COP31
Opening remarks
By the COP Presidencies Troika
H.E. Khalilur Rahman
President of the General Assembly
H.E. Ahmet Yildiz
Permanent Representative of T¨¹rkiye to the United Nations, representing the COP31 Host Country and Presidency
H.E. James Larsen
Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations, representing the President of COP31 Negotiations
H.E. S¨¦rgio Fran?a Danese
Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, representing the COP30 Presidency
H.E. Tesfaye Yilma Sabo
Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations, representing the COP32 Presidency
Framing segment
From commitments to implementation: key priorities for COP31
Statements by Member States and observers
Segment II · 3–5 p.m. ·
From Glaciers to the Sea
Panel
Strengthening multi-hazard early warning systems in a changing climate
Moderator
Lamont Research Professor, Marine and Polar Geophysics, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO), Columbia Climate School
Panellists
Government of Nepal · Senior Representative
Fund for responding to Loss and Damage · Senior Representative
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction · Senior Representative
World Meteorological Organization · Senior Representative
Global Environment Facility · Senior Representative
United Nations Environment Programme · Senior Representative
Interactive discussion
Interventions by Member States, Observers and Civil Society
Closing remarks
H.E. Khalilur Rahman
President of the General Assembly
Participants
Participation will include Member States and observers, the United Nations system, international and regional organizations, financial institutions, scientific and technical bodies, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, youth and representatives of affected communities.
Outcome
The President of the General Assembly will circulate a concise President’s Summary, reflecting the views expressed by Member States during the special event.
Why now
Weather and climate extremes are being felt across all regions
They are undermining sustainable development, reversing hard-won development gains and disproportionately affecting developing countries, particularly those that are especially vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Current nationally determined contributions remain insufficient to keep the 1.5¡ã°ä goal within reach.
Global warming above the 1850–1900 level
Where the world stood in 2025, the goal and where current policies lead
0¡ã°ä
1¡ã°ä
2¡ã°ä
3¡ã°ä
1.4¡ã°ä
in 2025, one of the three warmest years on record; 2015–2025 are the eleven warmest years
1.5¡ã°ä
the goal current nationally determined contributions are insufficient to keep within reach
up to 2.8¡ãC
of warming this century if only current policies are implemented
6.2%
of mountain glaciers’ ice mass was lost between 2000 and 2025
1,400 bn tonnes
of glacier mass lost between 2023 and 2025 alone
1.1 mm
of global sea-level rise from the 408 billion tonnes glaciers lost in the 2025 hydrological year
60%+
of countries (119) report having multi-hazard early warning systems, yet significant gaps persist
Sources: WMO, and ; UNEP, ; UNDRR and WMO, . As cited in the
concept note.
