Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is participating in the United Nations COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey, which began on November 9 and will continue through November 20. The conference brings together government leaders, climate experts, and international organizations to negotiate responses to global warming. As a country highly vulnerable to climate change, Somalia is seeking greater international financial and technical assistance to support climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development.
The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference aims to strengthen international climate commitments, accelerate adaptation efforts, and expand financial support for countries facing the greatest climate risks. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to participate in high-level meetings and deliver a national statement during the World Leaders Summit scheduled for November 11 and 12. He will also hold bilateral meetings with several leaders attending the conference, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Somalia has experienced recurring droughts and floods that have damaged agricultural production, killed livestock, displaced communities, and placed additional pressure on the economy. Prolonged dry conditions have repeatedly threatened food security in rural communities, while seasonal flooding has damaged homes, farmland, and critical infrastructure in several parts of the country. The conference provides Somalia with an opportunity to advocate for greater international support to address these challenges.
Climate financing is expected to be a major focus of the conference, particularly for developing countries seeking resources to strengthen resilience, improve early warning systems, and respond to climate-related disasters. The Somali delegation includes senior federal government officials, ministers, and representatives involved in climate policy and international cooperation. They will engage in discussions on the effects of rising global temperatures, extreme heat, and climate-related health risks.
The conference agenda includes discussions on the growing need for international cooperation to protect vulnerable populations. Somalia is among the countries most exposed to the effects of global warming, and the government is seeking to accelerate the implementation of commitments under the Paris Agreement. COP31 is also expected to address broader efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen support for countries most affected by climate change.
President Erdoğan is hosting the summit, which will focus on strengthening international climate commitments and expanding financial support for countries facing the greatest climate risks. The conference will bring together world leaders to discuss climate change, financing, and measures to help vulnerable countries cope with increasingly severe weather. Somalia's participation in the conference is seen as a critical opportunity to advocate for greater international support.
The conference runs until November 20, with negotiations aimed at advancing international cooperation on climate action and strengthening support for countries most exposed to the effects of global warming. The Somali delegation's participation in the conference is expected to help raise awareness about the country's climate challenges and advocate for greater international support to address them.
Key points
- Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud attends COP31 climate summit in Turkey to discuss climate change and financing.
- Somalia seeks greater international financial and technical assistance to support climate adaptation and disaster preparedness.
- The conference aims to strengthen international climate commitments and expand financial support for countries facing the greatest climate risks.
