Skip to main content

LSE sustainability research and expertise at COP31

Thursday 5 November 2026
COP31-Antalya-Mediterranean-Turkey

From 9 November 2026, climate delegates and leaders from around the world will gather in Antalya, Türkiye, for COP31. LSE sustainability experts from across the GSoS network will be in attendance, playing a leading role in discussions on the economic, financial, political, legal and social dimensions of climate action.

GSoS and its affiliated research centres, the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, Centre for Economic Transition Expertise (CETEx) and the TPI Global Climate Transition Centre, will host events and activities throughout the conference. These will span climate governance and litigation, just transition, transition finance, nature and financial stability, climate adaptation and other areas of LSE expertise.

Explore GSoS and affiliated research centre activities at COP31 below.

In the lead-up to COP31

Closing the gap between nature and climate: from Yerevan to Antalya
15:00-16:30 (UK time) | online | GSoS
This online webinar will reflect on the outcomes of COP17 and explore how the nature and climate agendas can align as attention turns to COP31.

Events and activities at COP31

Making blended finance more investable - the role of credit ratings
09:00-10:00 (local time) | Climate Action Innovation Zone | CETEx
CETEx and the UK EMDE Investor Taskforce will convene a closed-door roundtable exploring how credit ratings can help scale blended finance and mobilise private capital for climate and sustainable development.

Opening ceremony of the GAUC Pavilion
9:00-10:00 (local time) | GAUC Pavillion, Blue Zone | GSoS
Nick Stern will speak at the opening ceremony of the GAUC Pavilion, which will also welcome and introduce the 2026 GAUC Youth Delegation

From pledges to portfolios: mobilising capital for the implementation decade
9:50-10:30 (local time) | Climate Action Innovation Zone | GSoS
Sir Andrew Steer will moderate a panel of leaders from finance and investment exploring how climate commitments can be translated into investable projects and portfolios, and how private capital can be mobilised for climate action.

Lowering the price of a liveable planet
12:00-14:30 | Invitation only lunch | GSoS
Hosted by Lei Zhang, Founder & CEO, Envision, Lord Nicholas Stern, author, The Growth Story of the 21st Century, Sir Andrew Steer and Professor Jonathan Pershing, in collaboration with Goals House, this closed-door will explore how to mobilise private capital for clean-energy investment in emerging economies.

Beyond coal: what makes a just transition work?
16:00-17:00 (local time) | Spain Pavilion, Blue Zone | CETEx
Isabel Lara Miranda will speak at this event, co-organised by CETEx and Spain’s Just Transition Institute. The panel will explore international evidence on what makes a just transition away from coal work in practice.

Delivering robust Net Zero financing plans for key sectors of the economy
10:30-11:30 | Climate Action Innovation Zone | CETEx
Rt Hon Chris Skidmore, Chair; Ben Fagan-Watson, contributorC
onvened by CETEx, this closed-door roundtable will explore how financing can be integrated into sector-level transition plans to support delivery of the net zero transition.

From ambition to investment: developing and financing high-quality, sustainable and resilient infrastructure
14:00-15:30 (local time) | IDFC Pavillion | GSoS
June Choi will speak at this event, exploring climate finance and how to develop resilient infrastructure.

The AI resource loop: turning Africa’s natural capital into investable climate and economic value
18:00-19:00 (local time) | Africa Pavillion | GSoS
June Choi will speak at this event, exploring how Africa can harness growing demand for critical minerals, energy and infrastructure to create sustainable, long-term economic value for local communities.

Operationalising the highest possible ambition under the Paris Agreement
11:30-13:00 (local time) | Side event room yellow | GRI
Dr Joana Setzer will be speaking at this official UNFCCC side event organised by the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment at Imperial College London, together with Climate Analytics, the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), and the Government of Grenada.

Full Circle? Making the ICJ climate opinion count for the Pacific and beyond
14:00-15:00 (local time) | Higher Education for Climate Action Pavilion, Blue Zone | GRI
Joana Setzer will be speaking at this event organised by the University of Melbourne (Melbourne Law School), with the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the COP University Alliance.

How can economic and financial research support climate and nature actions – practical examples and discussion
9:00 – 10:00 (local time) | Finland Pavilion, Blue Zone | TPI Centre
Antonina Scheer will be speaking at this event organised by the Finland Prime Minister’s Office, which will explore practical ways to support better decision-making in the public and private sector related to climate and nature risks and the green transition.

Energy transition and climate litigation: global, Latin American and Brazilian perspectives
11:00–12:30 (local time) | Meeting Room 1, Blue Zone | GRI
Joana Setzer will be speaking at this invitation-only workshop organised by the LACLIMA Institute, in partnership with the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.

Democratic governance for climate action: global innovations in practice
13:15-14:45 (local time) | Side Event Room Orange | GRI
Alina Averchenkova will be speaking at this Official UNFCCC side event co-organised by LSE, International IDEA, Real Instituto Elcano and RETOOL.

Emerging climate justice: shaping just transition through global experience
17:15-18:45 (local time) | Indonesia Pavilion, Blue Zone | GRI
Joana Setzer will be speaking at this event organised by the Directorate of Resources Mobilization for Climate Change, in partnership with the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL). The event will bring international experiences and perspectives into discussions on advancing a just transition in Indonesia.

Too big to fail: critical natural systems and the future of economic and financial stability
11:15-14:15 (local time)| UK Pavilion | GRI
Tom Tayler will be a Go-convenor and presenter at this event hosted by Earth Capital Nexus and the UK Government.

From guidance to action: shaping the IPCC technical guidelines on climate change impacts and adaptation
11:30–12:30 (local time)| UNFCCC Pavilion | GRI
Timo Leiter, Coordinating Lead Author (CLA) in the IPCC Seventh Assessment Report (AR7), will be presenting the approved outline of the IPCC Technical Guidelines for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation (TGIA), which are part of the Working Group II report.

Reading recommendations

Who’s attending COP31?