Series · COP31 · Antalya, 9 to 20 November 2026
The View from the Islands: COP31
A Saltwater Insights series
Providing fresh insights from developments in Antalya as they unfold. This series explores COP31 from the standpoint of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). We follow the politics of climate finance across the following five questions to watch.
What we are watching
The questions this series follows from the opening day to the final text. Each status is updated as the negotiations move.
Is adaptation finance offered as grants or as debt?
OpenDeveloping countries are pressing for grant-based adaptation finance, while new climate finance pledges have fallen sharply.
Will the Adaptation Fund receive its carbon-market proceeds?
Decision due at COP31The transfer of its share of Article 6.4 proceeds stalled in Bonn in June and now rests with Antalya.
Will the Pacific Resilience Facility be capitalised?
Seeking US$500 millionAustralia has committed $100 million to the Pacific-led facility, and further pledges are awaited.
Does loss and damage finance match the losses?
First payout madeUS$20 million for Nepal, against an estimated US$2.69 billion in initial losses.
How will adaptation and resilience be measured?
Talks restartedNegotiations on putting the Belém adaptation indicators into practice began again from the beginning.
The series so far
- Part 1 · 11 November 2026COP31: What Antalya Owes the Islands
Antalya was billed as the implementation COP. On its opening day, tripling adaptation finance was kept off the formal agenda, while the finance needs of small island states were left to a pledging session.
5 min read
- Part 2 · 12 November 2026LatestGrants, Not Debt: The Adaptation Fund and What Small Island States Are Owed
The one climate fund built on what small island states asked for, and why it is kept small
5 min read
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