Antalya, Türkiye, 8 November 2026:
As COP31 opens in Antalya, Turkiye, Climate Action Network Canada (CAN-Rac) calls on Canada to be accountable for the growing gap between climate realities and its political response.
COP31 will seek to unite countries around concrete implementation of the Paris Agreement, but takes place at a moment of intensifying geopolitical tension and an accelerating climate crisis, illustrated by the floods in Nepal, heatwaves in China, and another summer of wildfires and smoke in Canada. In a brief published today, CAN-Rac lays out its expectations and calls to action for the role Canada must play to ensure the success of COP31 negotiations:
- Close the gap with its climate goals and participate ambitiously to global electrification efforts;
- Make Just Transition a reality in Canada and across the world, including by withdrawing Bill C-39;
- Champion ambitious implementation of Canada’s international climate finance package;
- Deliver new funding for adaptation and for loss and damage;
- Anchor implementation in science, equity and diverse knowledge systems; and
- Defend civic space and build people power for climate justice at COP31.
Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director, Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat Canada, said:
“In 2026, the world continues to change at a dizzying pace. Wars and violations of international law; spiralling impacts of climate change; oil companies profiteering from an energy crisis are some of the real world events that people outside across the world are grappling with. Can the COP keep up? That is the question countries will have to answer during the next two weeks.
We cannot seriously talk about “implementation” without looking at what is happening back home. Budget 2026 gave a needed boost to Canada’s electrification efforts; but how we build our renewable-powered economy matters. Any assertions of Canada’s climate leadership at COP31 will have to contend with expanding investments in fossil fuel infrastructure and the warnings of Indigenous leaders, environmental and labour activists about the ongoing dismantling of our environmental law safety net.”
Read the full brief here.
Members of Climate Action Network Canada’s delegation will be in Antalya and available for media interviews throughout COP31.
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Canada’s farthest-reaching network of organizations working on climate and energy issues, Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada is a coalition of close to 200 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. Our membership brings environmental groups together with trade unions, First Nations, social justice, development, health and youth organizations, faith groups and local, grassroots initiatives.
For more information, contact:
Audrey Robillard, Interim Communications Manager
audreyrobillard@climateactionnetwork.ca