Thunberg slams Türkiye over human rights record ahead of COP31

United Nations climate conferences (COP) have become “circuses” serving nothing more than performative environmentalism, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg said upon arriving in Türkiye, where the COP31 conference will take place.

Nevertheless, she sees them as an opportunity to mobilise people and urge those in positions of authority to take action, the French news agency AFP reports, CE Report quotes STA.

Thunberg and many other climate activists have become disillusioned with the United Nations (UN) annual climate conferences, which have failed to deliver many significant breakthroughs in recent years, as fossil fuel-producing countries often obstruct negotiations and measures to reduce emissions, AFP reports.

“COP conferences have become circuses of performative environmentalism. That is the reality,” the Swedish activist said. This will be her first appearance at a climate conference since 2021.

Nevertheless, she sees them as an opportunity to mobilise people. “We are here as activists to put pressure on those in power to actually deliver on what they have been talking about for decades and decades,” she added.

Thunberg also criticised Türkiye, which is hosting this year's climate conference.

“We must not overlook the fact that the host country is violating numerous fundamental human rights,” she stressed.

According to AFP, observers do not expect many significant breakthroughs at this year's 31st UN climate summit in the Turkish resort city of Antalya, as countries grapple with an oil price shock and geopolitical tensions further aggravated by the US war with Iran and the war in Ukraine.

Expectations for the outcome of the UN climate conference in Türkiye are low, European Commissioner for Climate Wopke Hoekstra said in Brussels today. Nevertheless, he expressed hope that some progress would be made on clean energy.

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