United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on 11 November 2026 issued a pointed call for climate justice at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP) in Antalya, Turkey, demanding that industrialised nations bear proportional financial responsibility for the global warming crisis they historically drove. His remarks set a sharp tone at the summit, attended by representatives of 197 countries.

The 'Polluters Must Pay' Demand

'Polluters must pay,' Guterres declared from the Antalya summit stage. He called for a new Climate Justice Compact grounded in 'shared responsibility, shared security and shared benefits,' insisting that the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities must govern any framework that emerges from the conference.

Guterres linked financial liability directly to historical emissions, arguing that nations and industries that derived the greatest economic gains from fossil fuels must help absorb the costs of climate damage. In a pointed critique of the fossil fuel sector, he noted that the nine largest oil companies collectively posted $95 billion in profits in the last quarter alone — framing that figure as a measure of the industry's capacity to contribute to climate finance.

Finance Targets: $300 Billion a Year by 2035

Guterres set out concrete expectations for developed nations, calling on them to deliver at least $300 billion a year by 2035 and to triple adaptation finance by that deadline. He said the broader $1.3 trillion goal must translate into 'real finance flowing to developing countries,' requiring every source — public, private, and multilateral — to contribute meaningfully.

'Developed countries must lead in delivering at least $300 billion a year by 2035, and set out concrete plans with clear milestones to at least triple adaptation finance by then,' he said. 'The $1.3 trillion goal must become real finance flowing to developing countries, and this demands that every source of finance pull its weight.'

He also called for greater South-South cooperation to widen access to green technology and capital for developing economies, and stressed that private investment must complement government and multilateral funding in supporting the energy transition.

India's Call for Equity and Accountability

Guterres' remarks reinforced a position India had staked out at the summit a day earlier. Narendra Bhooshan, Secretary of India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, addressed the conference on Tuesday, urging a 'fair, equitable, and ambitious outcome.' Bhooshan underscored that public financing from developed nations remains critical for enabling climate adaptation and addressing vulnerabilities in developing countries — a position consistent with India's long-standing stand in climate negotiations.

US Boycott Clouds Proceedings

A significant shadow hangs over the Antalya conference: the United States, historically the world's largest cumulative emitter of greenhouse gases, is boycotting the event. The absence follows decisions by President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly dismissed international climate change initiatives. The US non-participation complicates prospects for binding commitments, given its outsized role in both global emissions history and international climate finance.

Guterres warned that trade barriers, technology monopolies, and geopolitical rivalries continue to block effective global climate action — remarks widely read as addressing both the US stance and broader fractures within the international community.

What Comes Next

With 197 nations in attendance — but the world's largest historical emitter absent — negotiators face the dual challenge of securing ambitious finance pledges and ensuring enforcement mechanisms are credible. The push for a Climate Justice Compact, if it gains traction, would mark a structural shift in how climate liability is framed under international law. The coming days at COP Antalya will test whether Guterres' moral urgency translates into binding outcomes.