A Tunisian delegation comprising experts from various fields, national representatives, and young negotiators is participating in the 31st Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, Turkey. The summit, which runs from November 9 to 20, is themed "From Pledges to Implementation" and is co-chaired by Turkish Environment and Urban Planning Minister Murat Kurum and Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Tunisia is among countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts, including drought, water stress, and rising sea levels.
According to the World Bank, Tunisia requires significant investments to address climate change challenges. The country estimates that it needs approximately $55 billion, or around 166 billion dinars, in investments for climate change adaptation and greenhouse gas emission reduction from 2026 to 2035. This is based on the updated nationally determined contribution (CDN 3.0). Adaptation measures account for around 53% of these needs, with about $29 billion allocated to the water and agriculture sectors. The remaining $25 billion is required for energy transition and emission reduction.
Tunisia is counting on international financing to cover most of these needs, with an estimated 74% of the required funds expected to come from international contributions and financing. Enhancing access to concessional climate financing, particularly for water security, agriculture, and coastal risk management projects, is a key concern for Tunisia at the Antalya negotiations. The summit offers Tunisia an opportunity to defend its climate priorities, highlight its financing needs, and explore new partnerships to support project implementation.
The Tunisian delegation is participating in negotiations within the African Group, Arab Group, and the G77 and China bloc. The primary goal is to transition from nationally determined contributions to tangible investments and implementable projects, yielding concrete results for the economy, productive sectors, and citizens' living conditions. A national coordination unit for climate change, under the Environment Ministry, organized a preparatory workshop from November 2 to 4, bringing together around 60 experts and national representatives to enhance the Tunisian delegation's negotiation capacity.
According to the Tunisian delegation, negotiations will cover several key issues, including climate financing, adaptation, just transition, loss and damage, carbon markets, gender, and emission reduction. Several outstanding issues remain regarding the implementation mechanisms for previous decisions related to these files, which explains the Turkish presidency's focus on transitioning from pledges to implementation. The Turkish-Australian presidency is based on three main principles: dialogue, consensus, and action.
The Turkish-Australian presidency emphasizes translating international commitments into actual financing, public policies, and implementable investments, rather than solely concluding new agreements. This approach is particularly important for developing countries, which still face difficulties accessing the necessary financing to address climate change impacts. Climate financing tops the negotiation agenda, with delegates expected to discuss mechanisms for achieving the new collective quantitative goal for climate financing and developed countries' commitment to their pledges.
The negotiations will also focus on the nature of financing, particularly the share of public and concessional financing compared to loans, to ensure that developing countries' debt is not increased. Additionally, discussions will revolve around climate financing mechanisms, which are expected to reach $1.3 trillion annually. The outcome of the Antalya summit will have a direct impact on Tunisia, given the significant investments required to address climate change challenges and the country's reliance on international financing to meet these needs.
Key points
- Tunisia requires approximately $55 billion in investments for climate change adaptation and greenhouse gas emission reduction from 2026 to 2035.
