The Road to COP31 Runs Through Implementation

Attention is turning toward the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31), the next United Nations climate conference scheduled for November 9–20 in Antalya, Türkiye. The incoming COP31 presidency has described the gathering as both an “Implementation COP” and a “COP of the Future,” with priorities including the energy transition, resilient cities and infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, climate funding, and stronger protection for vulnerable regions and ecosystems.

That implementation focus is already visible this month. UN Climate Week in Baku, Azerbaijan, ran Sept. 7–11, and included work on adaptation, transition, climate transparency, access to funding, and turning national climate commitments into real-world projects. These discussions are intended to build momentum toward Antalya and narrow the persistent gap between international PR and reality. UN Climate Week helps build momentum and advance practical solutions, while COP31 is the formal forum where governments negotiate and adopt decisions.

As COP31 approaches, the measure of progress should not be the number of new pledges announced, but whether existing commitments are translated into resilience, and greater security for communities living on the front lines of climate change. That requires sustained and accessible funding for adaptation, particularly for countries already experiencing the most severe climate impacts.

Congress Buys Time, but Climate Funding Decisions Remain

Congress returned to Washington and immediately settled one task: keeping the federal government open beyond the end of the fiscal year through a short-term funding measure. On Sept. 1, the House approved Senate amendments to H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, by a 370–48 vote. President Donald Trump signed the measure on September 2, extending federal funding through December 11, 2026.

This avoids a government shutdown, but it also postpones many of the full-year funding decisions that matter for U.S. engagement abroad. This includes international climate funding considered through H.R. 8595 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) appropriations bill in the House and the FY2027 Senate, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations process currently happening in the Senate. FCNL is lobbying Congress to provide at least $247 million for Renewable Energy, $176 million for Sustainable Landscapes, and $270 million for Adaptation in FY2027.

These accounts support clean energy deployment, forest protection, and resilience in lower-income countries already facing intensifying climate impacts. The continuing resolution gives lawmakers more time to negotiate, but the December deadline also means advocates have a narrow window to press Congress to ensure climate resilience is treated as part of U.S. foreign policy, humanitarian protection, and conflict prevention.

Holding Nepal in the Light in the Wake of Devastating Floods

On August 26, a catastrophic flash flood swept through Nepal’s Rasuwa district and the Trishuli River corridor after a major glacial collapse or ice-rock avalanche in the high Himalayas. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) reported extraordinary water-level increases, including a rise of as much as nine meters in roughly 30 minutes at one monitoring point. By Sept. 4, the United Nations reported that more than 1,250 people had been killed, thousands remained missing, and entire villages had been displaced.

The scale of the response reflects the scale of the destruction. The United Nations and humanitarian partners launched a $49.6 million emergency appeal to reach more than 84,000 people with shelter, clean water, health services, food assistance, and other urgent support.

Scientists are still examining the precise mechanics of the disaster, but the broader climate context is clear. UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell warned that the Hindu Kush Himalayas are highly vulnerable to climate change and that a warming climate is increasing the likelihood and severity of disasters in fragile mountain environments. ICIMOD has similarly documented accelerating glacier loss, changing snow patterns, degrading permafrost, and growing risks from floods, avalanches, debris flows, and landslides across the region.

Nepal is a reminder that we need to make investments in reducing risks before they become crises. These investments in early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, water security, and preparedness will save lives before the next emergency.

What We’re Reading:

Jeffrey Jordan II headshot

Jeffrey Jordan II

Legislative Representative for Sustainable Energy & Environment

Jeffrey Jordan II is FCNL’s lead representative for sustainable energy & environment on the domestic policy team. He advocates for policies related to environmental justice, protecting and sustaining domestic and international climate aid, accelerating clean energy deployment through efficient, community-centered permitting reform and supporting carbon pricing to drive emissions reductions to incentivize innovation.

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