Oil Change International COP31 Media Advisory – November 12, 2026

Valentina Stackl, Oil Change International  (in Antalya) [email protected] / +1 734 276 6260
Al Johnson-Kurts, Oil Change International (in Antalya) – [email protected] / +1 802 595 3086
Khaliel Moses, Oil Change International (in Antalya) – [email protected] / +27 68 514 4761

Antalya, Türkiye- As COP31 negotiations turn toward implementation, world leaders face pressure to deliver on their commitment to transition away from fossil fuels. Brazilian President Lula has called on COP31 hosts Türkiye and Australia to advance roadmaps for fossil fuel phaseout and climate finance, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of the urgent need to move away from fossil fuels. Yet many wealthy countries continue to expand oil and gas production while failing to deliver the public finance needed for a fair and just transition.

Mariam Kemple Hardy, Managing Director of Programs at Oil Change International, said:

“When you’re in a hole, the first step is to stop digging. Governments cannot claim climate leadership while approving new oil and gas projects and betting on unproven technologies to clean up the mess later. The world has already agreed to transition away from fossil fuels, triple renewable energy capacity, and double energy efficiency improvements. Now it’s time to deliver.

“We need concrete, government-led roadmaps with clear timelines to end fossil fuel expansion and phase out existing production, backed by public finance to make the transition fair and just. Wealthy countries, who bear the greatest historical responsibility for the climate crisis, must move first and fastest and pay their fair share. The idea that we can keep burning fossil fuels, breach 1.5°C, and simply reverse the damage later is a dangerous fantasy. Every year of delay means more climate destruction and higher costs for communities.”

Press Conferences:

• 11:00 Press Conference: Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice | Press Room Yunus Emre, Area D4 | Online
  • Speakers from the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice (DCJ) will address climate finance.
• 11:30 Press Conference: Climate Action Network | Press Room Yunus Emre, Area D4 | Online

Events: 

• 13:30-4:10: U.S. Federal Climate Action featuring U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse | America is All In Pavilion, Blue Zone | Online 
• 15:00-16:30 Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels: Indigenous Peoples Shaping a Just Transition
• 16:15-17:30 Using Experiences from Long-Term Strategies to Unlock Equitable and Credible Transitions Away from Fossil Fuels
• 16:30-17:30 From Multilateral to Local: Brazil’s National Roadmap | Brazil Pavillion | More information

In case you missed it: 

• Electrification: Read our quick explainer about why the electrification target needs strong renewable energy and fossil fuel phaseout guardrails to deliver on its promise. Electrification is essential to the energy transition, but it must not open the door to more fossil gas. As COP31 negotiators consider a global electrification target, IEA scenarios show that electrification under current energy policies falls far short of the emissions cuts needed to limit warming to 1.5°C and could cause rising gas demand for power.
• U.S. Bipartisan Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA): As Senator Whitehouse arrives at COP Oil Change International reaffirms opposition to the Trump-backed Bipartisan Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) and calls on the Senate to reject the bill. Read our statement about why BAAJA will fast-tracks fossil fuel projects and makes it virtually impossible for communities to stop them.
• United Nations Secretary-General: Lambasts Fossil Fuel Companies on Global Stage. Read António Guterres’ best lines and our reaction or watch our quick video.
• Finland: Releases Roadmap to Phaseout Fossil Fuels, Where Is Leadership from COP31 Presidents Australia and Türkiye? Read our reaction.

Spokespeople and areas of focus

At COP31, reach out to us to connect with spokespeople to cover: 

• Fair Fossil fuel phaseout: Fossil fuel phaseout roadmaps, Global North countries’ fossil fuel expansion, Nationally Determined Contributions, diplomacy and negotiations 
• Financing a just transition: Baku to Belém roadmap, NCQG, Article 2.1(c), fossil fuel subsidies and finance, financial architecture reform, just transition 
• Industry and False Solutions: Industry pledges, Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter, IEA / WEO, CCS, False Solutions Subsidies, International Energy Agency and World Energy Outlook, 1.5ºC scenarios
• United States: The fossil fuel giveaways in Senator Whitehouse’s permitting bill (BAAJA), Trump, U.S. Congress, U.S. finance and subsidies, false solutions and CCS, LNG, certified gas, Methane
• Africa: Resistance to oil and gas in Africa, oil and gas expansion in Africa
• Asia: Japan’s energy strategy, Japan’s gas and fossil fuel-based technologies (ammonia/hydrogen co-firing, CCS) expansion in Asia

OCI has spokespeople available on the ground at COP31 for interviews and press panels, as well as remote spokespeople available in alternative timezones for those journalists not in attendance in Antalya.

We will deliver daily media advisories with the most important updates from COP31 on fossil fuel phaseout, fair finance for a just transition, and expert insight on the negotiations. 

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