COP31 leaders try new sales pitch for climate action: do it for the economy
SPY•Leaders at the COP31 summit in Turkey are pitching climate action as a way to strengthen economies and lower living costs, pointing to fossil-fuel price shocks and energy-market turmoil.
1. Economic case for climate action
Leaders at COP31 are framing climate action as a way to bolster economies and bring down the cost of living, as governments contend with crises that have pushed global warming down their list of priorities. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said three-quarters of humanity live in countries that import fossil fuels and are exposed to price shocks.
2. Energy security and costs
Guterres said recent conflicts showed fossil-fuel dependence can bring chronic insecurity and higher living costs, and called for a shift to renewable energy. UN climate chief Simon Stiell said energy-market chaos and climate disasters were driving inflation, straining government budgets and increasing household bills.
3. Building broader support
Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said climate advocates should also emphasize security, health, jobs, community stability and food supply. Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar said policy should be guided by scientific evidence, while European energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen argued that reducing fossil-fuel dependence could attract support for security reasons even among climate skeptics.
