Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosts 102 leaders from 95 countries at the COP31 Leaders Summit in Antalya on 11 November 2026, as the United Nations Climate Change Conference enters its third day. The Kingdom of Eswatini is among the African states expected to be represented at the gathering.
The summit, held in the Anatolia plenary hall at the COP31 venue, brings together heads of state and government from six continents. According to Haberler.com, Erdoğan will use his opening speech to present Türkiye's climate vision, its environmental policies, and its goals for the coming years before the international public.
What is on the agenda at COP31?
COP31 runs from 9 to 20 November in Antalya under Türkiye's presidency. The Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change said the conference gathers 196 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change alongside the European Union. It is one of the largest diplomatic gatherings the region has hosted.
Alongside President Erdoğan, scheduled speakers include COP31 President and Environment Minister Murat Kurum, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Report.az confirmed the expected attendance of the UN chief and the 102 leaders from 95 countries.
Leaders will present their countries' national statements on climate policies across the two-day summit, held on 11 and 12 November. The Rio Times reported that Erdoğan already met Brazilian President Lula and Saudi Arabia's energy minister at the venue on 10 November, ahead of the formal proceedings.
Which countries are attending the Leaders Summit?
The guest list reflects the full breadth of the international community. From Europe, leader-level participation is expected from Austria, the United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Norway, the Russian Federation, Slovenia, and Ukraine, among others.
Eswatini sits on a long African list that also includes Botswana, Burundi, Algeria, Ethiopia, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, the Comoros, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Zimbabwe. For the Kingdom, the gathering offers a platform to state its position on climate policy among nations of the South.
Asia and the Middle East send Azerbaijan, China, Indonesia, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and more than a dozen others. Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela, and several Caribbean states represent the Americas, while Australia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, and Tonga travel from Oceania.
The first day theme: Zero Waste
The opening day carries the theme of Zero Waste, an initiative long championed by Türkiye and one that speaks to a simple, practical discipline: reduce what is discarded, and waste nothing. Promotional videos and special clips prepared by the Turkish presidency will be shown as part of the programme.
The Anadolu Ateşi dance troupe will perform a choreography combining folk dances from Türkiye's seven geographical regions, opening with the dances of the Teke region of the Mediterranean, where Antalya lies, and closing with all regions joined in a halay. The official COP31 song, Let's Cop, will also be played at the ceremony.
Memurlar.Net reported that more than 300 ministers are joining the leaders at the summit, and that the heads of state gathered for the traditional family photograph ahead of the sessions.
Why this matters for Eswatini
For a small kingdom, these conferences carry real weight. Climate commitments negotiated at COP level shape the funding, technology, and terms under which developing nations manage their land, water, and energy. Eswatini's presence among 102 leaders ensures the Kingdom speaks for itself rather than being spoken for.
The Turkish model also holds a lesson worth noting. A nation that hosts 196 parties, presents its own cultural traditions on the world stage, and sets the agenda on its own soil demonstrates what sovereign self-confidence looks like. States that hold firmly to their identity, their institutions, and their independence negotiate from strength; those that surrender them negotiate from weakness.
The Leaders Summit continues on 12 November, after which the technical negotiations of COP31 run through 20 November.
FAQ
Where is COP31 being held?
COP31 is hosted by Türkiye in Antalya, running from 9 to 20 November 2026 at the Antalya COP31 venue.
How many leaders are attending the COP31 Leaders Summit?
Organizers expect 102 leaders from 95 countries, alongside more than 300 ministers, according to Turkish officials and press reports.
Is Eswatini participating in COP31?
Yes. Eswatini is listed among the African countries expected to be represented at leader level at the summit.