What is COP31 and when will it take place?

COP31 is the 31st UN Climate Conference to be held in Antalya, Turkey, from 9 November to 20 November 2026. The goal is to strengthen the implementation of the Paris Agreement, which requires all countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tighten their national climate targets every five years.

Who will represent Switzerland at COP31?

Albert Rösti, Federal Councillor and head of DETEC, will represent Switzerland at ministerial level during the second week of the negotiations. The Swiss delegation consists of eleven people, led by Ambassador for the Environment Felix Wertli, and includes four civil society representatives from economic and environmental circles.

What are the climate goals of COP31?

COP31 will address three main goals set at COP28 in 2023: tripling renewables by 2030, doubling energy efficiency by 2030, and phasing out fossil fuels by 2050. Switzerland is committed to ensuring that all countries, particularly those with high emissions, take effective measures to achieve these goals.

What are the practical implications for Switzerland?

Commitment to COP31 will involve significant investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency at the national level. This creates job opportunities in the green sector, influences households' energy costs and requires infrastructure investments in the cantons. Citizens and companies can contribute by adopting renewable energy, improving the efficiency of homes and implementing clean technologies.

COP31: Swiss delegation mandate approved (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 19 August 2026

Swiss Alpine mountain lake landscape symbolizing renewable energy transition and sustainable power generation

The Federal Council approves the mandate of the delegation for COP31 in Antalya (November 2026). Switzerland is committed to climate and renewables.

Context

In a nutshell

Federal Council approves COP31 delegation mandate (November 2026, Antalya)
Albert Rösti will represent Switzerland at ministerial level
Goals: Triple renewables and energy efficiency by 2030
Delegation: 11 experts + 4 civil society representatives

Key facts

What: Approval of COP31 delegation mandate
When: 19 August 2026 (Federal Council meeting); 9–20 November 2026 (conference)
Where: Antalya, Turkey
Who: Federal Council, Albert Rösti (head of DATEC), Felix Wertli (environment ambassador)
Paris Agreement: 194 countries, 145 with 2035 targets (78% global emissions)
Tripling renewables: by 2030
Climate projection: from 4°C (2015) to 2.3-2.5°C with current measures

On 19 August 2026, the Federal Council approved the mandate of the Swiss delegation for COP31, the 31st UN Climate Conference. The conference will be held in Antalya, Turkey, from November 9 to November 20, 2026. Albert Rösti, Federal Councillor and head of the DETEC (Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications), will represent Switzerland at ministerial level during the second week of the negotiations.

What COP31 is and why it matters for Switzerland

COP31 aims to strengthen the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement, adopted in 2015. This international agreement requires all countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to increase their greenhouse gas emissions every five years.

Operational details

The state of the art of the global climate fight

Currently, 145 out of 194 countries of the Paris Agreement have already submitted their climate goals for 2035. These 145 countries cover 78 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, a figure that underlines the geopolitical and economic weight of the countries that are committing. However, the level of ambition remains insufficient to achieve the most challenging goal: limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Climate Transition Progress and Limits

In 2015, at the time of the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the world was heading towards a global warming of 4 degrees Celsius. The full implementation of the climate objectives presented by the countries would make it possible to limit global warming to a range between 2.3 and 2.5 degrees Celsius. This is significant progress compared to the projected 4 degrees, and testifies to the effectiveness of the Agreement in reducing warming trajectories.

However, this reduction is not enough. The goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees cannot be achieved with current measures. This means that COP31 represents a critical opportunity to further strengthen national climate commitments and accelerate international investments in climate protection.

The goals of COP28 and the 2030–2050 challenge

At COP28 in 2023, three specific pillars were defined: tripling

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Key points

Implications for Switzerland: what these commitments mean

The approval of the mandate of the Swiss delegation to COP31 is not a purely formal act. It reflects a concrete commitment by Switzerland to effectively implement the climate goals at the national level. Tripling renewables by 2030 will involve massive investments in solar, wind and hydropower plants. Energy efficiency will concern the Swiss building stock, industries and transport — sectors that have direct operating costs and affect the costo della vita of households.

Work and opportunities in the green transition

The energy transition creates new professions and sectors of work. Solar panel installers, energy efficiency experts, energy engineers, smart grid specialists and corporate sustainability managers are increasingly in demand in Switzerland. The phasing out of fossil fuels by 2050 requires a retraining of the workforce and ongoing training.

For job seekers, the green transition represents a real opportunity. Swiss companies and cantons are investing in sustainability projects, and the demand for green skills is growing. Consultare gli annunci di lavoro nel settore della sostenibilità can reveal career opportunities in areas such as renewable energy, energy consulting, and environmental engineering.

What citizens and companies can do

Progress towards the 2030 and 2050 goals

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Source: admin.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What is COP31 and when will it take place?: COP31 is the 31st UN Climate Conference to be held in Antalya, Turkey, from 9 November to 20 November 2026. The goal is to strengthen the implementation of the Paris Agreement, which requires all countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tighten their national climate targets every five years.
Who will represent Switzerland at COP31?: Albert Rösti, Federal Councillor and head of DETEC, will represent Switzerland at ministerial level during the second week of the negotiations. The Swiss delegation consists of eleven people, led by Ambassador for the Environment Felix Wertli, and includes four civil society representatives from economic and environmental circles.
What are the climate goals of COP31?: COP31 will address three main goals set at COP28 in 2023: tripling renewables by 2030, doubling energy efficiency by 2030, and phasing out fossil fuels by 2050. Switzerland is committed to ensuring that all countries, particularly those with high emissions, take effective measures to achieve these goals.
How many countries have submitted climate targets for 2035?: Currently 145 out of 194 countries of the Paris Agreement have submitted their climate targets for 2035. These 145 countries cover 78 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, a figure that reflects the involvement of the world's main emitters in the fight against climate change.
What are the practical implications for Switzerland?: Commitment to COP31 will involve significant investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency at the national level. This creates job opportunities in the green sector, influences households' energy costs and requires infrastructure investments in the cantons. Citizens and companies can contribute by adopting renewable energy, improving the efficiency of homes and implementing clean technologies.