Climate talks should focus on implementation

Global climate talks starting today are unlikely to yield new targets on curbing greenhouse gases, but negotiators have plenty to do to implement measures already agreed, Singapore's environment minister said.



"I think that we are not expecting a major upgrade in mitigation targets" at the annual UN talks in Turkey.



Grace Fu told reporters, "we have enough, even within the Paris Agreement, with what we have already agreed on. There is enough to work on."



Delegations from nearly 200 countries are meeting in Antalya for the 12-day COP31 conference, seeking to thrash out more steps on reducing emissions.



They are set to negotiate on areas including electrification, limiting the rise in global temperatures and climate finance.



While negotiators face "headwinds", including energy security concerns arising from the US-Israeli war against Iran, there is room for progress on issues like climate adaptation and opportunities to reach separate agreements outside the main negotiation process, Fu said on Friday.