SMEs at COP31SMEs at COP31
COP31 Guide

4 min read · Updated: 24 September 2026 · 6 sources

COP31 priorities and 2035 targets

The COP31 Presidency's six priority areas, their measurable 2035 targets and the ten-theme Action Agenda.

Six priorities, measurable targets

The COP31 Presidency defines its "implementation COP" through concrete targets for 2035:1

Priority2035 target
ElectrificationRaise the global electrification rate to 35%
Zero Waste and methane reductionCut the increase in waste generation by 50%
Resilient cities and buildingsReduce energy intensity in buildings by at least 25%
Green industrialisationRaise circular material use in manufacturing to at least 15%
Climate awareness for allClimate-resilient farming and climate education reaching all of society
Climate Implementation BridgeExpand the mechanism that accelerates NDC implementation

Some targets have already become initiatives. The 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge, launched at New York Climate Week, aims to raise electricity's share of final energy consumption to 35% globally by 2035; businesses, investors, cities and civil society can join as Supporters.2

For SMEs: circular materials, building efficiency, electrification and waste reduction touch the daily work of manufacturers and service providers alike. These targets signal where customer, finance and regulatory expectations are heading over the next decade.

The COP31 Action Agenda: ten themes

Building on the UN Global Climate Action Agenda, the Presidency highlights ten themes, with finance, technology and capacity building as horizontal enablers:34

  1. Zero Waste — scalable circular-economy solutions for waste
  2. Oceans and Seas — marine ecosystems and blue carbon
  3. Food Security — sustainable, resilient food systems
  4. Climate-Resilient Cities — liveable places for everyone
  5. Climate Implementation Bridge — from commitments to delivery and investment
  6. Youth and Education — young people as architects of solutions
  7. Green Industrialisation — low-carbon pathways supporting competitiveness and a just transition
  8. Clean Energy Transition — clean, secure, affordable energy for all
  9. Rio Synergy — where climate, biodiversity and desertification meet
  10. Dynamic and Resilient Health Systems — climate-resilient, low-carbon, equitable health care

Activities on our SME profiles are tagged with these ten themes, so you can see which SMEs work on which theme in one click.

The Action Agenda maps onto the programme's thematic days — spaces to present initiatives, share practice and build partnerships. Each day may feature ministerial roundtables, high-level panels, business and innovation forums, partnership announcements, technical workshops and civil-society and youth dialogues.56

References

  1. Presidency Priorities — COP31 Türkiye
  2. COP31 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge — COP31 Türkiye, 21 September 2026
  3. COP31 Action Agenda — COP31 Türkiye
  4. COP31 Türkiye — FAQ — COP31 Türkiye
  5. COP 31 Presidency Outlines Priority Themes, Key Moments on Road to Antalya — IISD SDG Knowledge Hub
  6. Thematic Days — COP31 Türkiye

This content is for information only and is not legal or financial advice. Rely on the official texts listed in the references for binding, up-to-date information.

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