From 9 to 20 November 2026, the European Space Agency (ESA) will participate in the 31st UN Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Turkey, as an observer organisation. ESA will highlight how Earth observations provide the long-term global evidence and actionable information required to inform effective progress towards the Paris Agreement goals.
Long-term satellite records help researchers track changes across the climate system, strengthen climate models and services, provide early warning of emerging change, and help societies anticipate and respond effectively to future climate impacts through mitigation and adaptation.
Through its Climate Change Initiative (CCI), ESA develops long-term satellite datasets for key components of the climate system – referred to as a suite of Essential Climate Variables – as defined by the Global Climate Observing System. Consistent records provide a basis for understanding Earth’s changing climate, assessing progress, and connecting global evidence with national priorities.
ESA’s highlight events at COP31
Earth Information Day: Essential Climate Variables in focus
Monday, 9 November, 15:00–18:00 UTC+3 (13:00-16:00 CET), Plenary 2
The plenary event opens with updates on the global climate observing system, including ESA's contribution. ESA will present on Satellite data records for Essential Climate Variables, showing how consistent space-based records support climate science, modelling and decision-making. A second presentation shows how satellite observations can strengthen national greenhouse gas inventories, supporting more accurate and transparent emissions reporting.
Find out more about the event here: https://climate.esa.int/en/events/earth-information-day-2026-at-cop31/
Watch the webcast here: https://unfccc.int/event/earth-information-day-2026-mandated-event
ESA side-event “Climate action: Where are we? Earth Observation, Global Carbon Budget & Adaptation Indicators”
Monday, 9 November, 18:30–20:00 UTC+3 (16:30-18:00 CET), Side Event Room 9, Safranbolu
Assessing whether climate action reduces emissions, protects carbon sinks and builds resilience remains difficult. Earth observation provides global-scale information that helps measure the impact of climate action and inform more effective choices. The side event brings together perspectives on the Global Carbon Budget, greenhouse gas monitoring, climate adaptation, resilient infrastructure, and coastal challenges.
ESA contributions will cover the role of Earth observations in climate monitoring, transitioning from tracking emissions and carbon sinks to assessing adaptation progress and the potential of satellite observations to support the 59 Global Goal on Adaptation indicators, as well as their integration into national policy and reporting. For the latter, experts and stakeholders from academia, space agencies, policy organisations, intergovernmental agencies, and the private sector came together for a workshop in June 2026. The workshop report has recently been published and can be found here.
Find out more about the event here: https://climate.esa.int/en/events/climate-action-where-are-we-earth-observation-global-carbon-budget-adaptation-indicators/
Sustaining the global climate observing system
Tuesday, 10 November, 14:30–15:30 UTC+3 (12:30-13:30 CET), UNFCCC Pavilion
ESA joins the COP31 Presidency, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the World Meteorological Organization and the Global Climate Observing System for the side event The State of Global Climate Observation: Partnerships and Investments to Close Observation Gaps.
Organised by the UNFCCC Research and Systematic Observation, this session addresses critical gaps in global climate observations, as well as the need to sustain the systems and international coordination that make long-term climate records possible. Data records of the atmosphere, land, oceans and cryosphere are essential for early warnings, adaptation, climate assessments and informed decision-making. ESA is helping to address these needs through a sustained programme of Earth observation missions, combining continuity of established measurements with pioneering new capabilities. Recent missions including Biomass, EarthCARE and FLEX are expanding our ability to observe key components of the climate system, while ESA’s long-term commitment to satellite observations helps ensure these measurements can contribute to consistent climate records.
Reading the climate signal: El Niño and extreme events
Tuesday, 10 November, 18:30–20:00 UTC+3 (16:30-18:00 CET), Side Event Room 3, Zerzevan
At the official United Nations system side event of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), ESA will join a panel discussion on how observations turn an El Niño signal into information that supports preparedness and action. El Niño is now firmly established and is expected to intensify into a very strong event in the coming months. Current WMO forecasts indicate a near-100% likelihood that conditions will persist until February 2027.
The panel covers the entire climate information cycle, from reading the climate signal and understanding risk to taking action and using experience to improve future decisions. ESA will demonstrate how satellite observations can be used to assess the wider effects of El Niño across the ocean, land and atmosphere, including its impact on vegetation, wildfires and terrestrial carbon balance.
You can watch the livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEM21lCpB5Mc
More information and tools to track the progress and effects of the current El Niño event: https://el-nino.apex.esa.int/en