Arrangements for the Opening of the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2026

The formal opening plenary of COP 31/CMP 21/CMA 8 is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am on Monday, 9 November 2026 in Plenary Anadolu at the COP 31 Venue.

Access to the Opening of COP 31

The official opening of COP 31 will be open to all Parties and observer States, UN organizations, and admitted IGOs and NGOs and can be followed via webcast and the COP 31 Digital Platform (the entries for the opening will be added in due course).

For in-person attendance, tickets will be required to access the opening of the COP.

Admitted IGOs:

• Tickets for the opening of COP 31 for admitted IGOs that are registered for COP 31 will be distributed at the Distribution Counter, located in the Information and Service Hub at the conference venue.
• Tickets may be collected from Monday, 9 November between 7:00 and 10:00, subject to access to the conference venue.
• Please note that tickets will be distributed only during the indicated collection periods. Delegations are requested to collect their tickets within the applicable collection period. The conference badge of the person collecting the tickets will be scanned to acknowledge receipt. In view of security requirements, lost or misplaced tickets will not be reissued.

Admitted NGOs:

• Tickets will be provided to the NGO constituencies through their respective constituency focal points (CFPs).

Please note, access to the opening session of the COP is permitted only with a valid ticket. Tickets will be collected upon entering Plenary Anadolu and will be returned when exiting. Therefore, tickets are transferrable.

Webcast and overflow room

• Plenary Akdeniz will be available as an overflow room for delegates who do not have a seat in the plenary to watch the live webcast of the opening of COP 31 on 9 November.
• Participants are also invited to follow the proceedings via the live webcast and the COP 31 Digital Platform (the entries for the opening will be added in due course).

Overview of the registration process

In accordance with Article 7, paragraph 6 of the Convention, Parties to the Convention, United Nations and related organizations and agencies, media and non-profit observer organizations with observer status may attend the sessions of the Convention. Consequently, everyone wishing to attend the conference must be registered accordingly and in possession of a conference badge. Organizations without observer status and individuals can find further information here.

Registration is managed through the Online Registration System (ORS). The secretariat’s usual practice is to post official information for upcoming sessions, including registration timelines, on the UNFCCC website well in advance of the start date of the sessions. You can find current information on the Notifications page of the UNFCCC website.

ORS will open upon issuance of the notification/information note which contains the nomination and confirmation deadlines. Designated Contact Points (DCP) of admitted NGOs must nominate and confirm representatives through ORS by the given deadlines. Late nomination and confirmation of representatives after these deadlines will not be accepted.

For further information and guidance on the nominations and confirmation process and using the system, please refer to the ORS User Manual.

For technical assistance when using the system, please contact the UNFCCC support team using the ORS Support Form.

Registration on-site (for duly registered observers)

Duly confirmed delegates through ORS must obtain a conference badge at registration counters on-site. Further details are published in the information for participants for the respective sessions.

Further information on registration for COP 31

Information for COP 31 participants (A-Z)/Registration

UNFCCC events are guided by the highest ethical and professional standards, and all participants are expected to behave with integrity and respect towards each other while attending or being involved with any UNFCCC event.

Code of conduct for UNFCCC events

The Code of Conduct applies to all participants at a UNFCCC event, that is, all persons attending (regardless whether in person or virtually) or involved in any capacity at a UNFCCC event, including in its set up or delivery. By attending or being involved in any capacity at a UNFCCC event, participants agree to abide by the UNFCCC Code of Conduct.

Further, the below guidelines and regulations are set in place to promote a harmonious atmosphere supportive of discussions and negotiations at intergovernmental meetings and to encourage the effective participation of observers in the process:

• Guidelines for participation
• Minor Participant Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Form
• Use of cameras and audio/video recording devices
• UN security guidelines
• UN Administrative instruction on Authority of United Nations security officer

The secretariat facilitates various opportunities for admitted intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to engage in the UNFCCC process, contribute their expertise and perspectives, and interact with Parties and other stakeholders during COP 31. 

Engagement opportunities include: 

• Following the negotiations to stay informed, provide inputs to Parties and promote transparency. 
• Engaging with Party delegates to share policy positions, research and recommendations. 
• Making formal submissions in response to calls for information and views issued by UNFCCC bodies. 
• Attending Town Halls to raise key issues directly with Presiding Officers and the UNFCCC Executive Secretary. 
• Holding press conferences to share perspectives and communicate messages to the wider public. 
• Attend the Open Dialogue to exchange views with Parties jointly reflect on substantive discussions. 

Working with other observers 

NGOs may also engage collectively through the nine recognized NGO constituencies and, where relevant, informal NGO groups. These structures facilitate opportunities to: 

• Join coordination meetings to exchange information and coordinate engagement during the conference. 
• Contribute to joint statements delivered in plenaries and, where possible, other negotiating spaces. 
• Nominate speakers for UNFCCC-mandated events, workshops and other engagement opportunities. 
• Coordinate engagement with Parties and the Presidency on issues of shared interest. 

NGOs do not need to be affiliated with a constituency or informal NGO group to participate in the UNFCCC process and may engage independently through the opportunities outlined above. 

For further information, please consult the Observer Handbook for COP 31. 

Letters from the COP 31 President are available on the COP 31 Presidency's website here. 

*This table is a selection of communications on COP 31 to observer organizations. Please also consult the full list of communications to observer organizations here.

The Open Dialogue provides a unique opportunity for Parties and NGO Constituencies to directly interact with on concrete issues in the UNFCCC negotiation process, with the understanding that any outcomes of such a dialogue have persuasive value only, respecting the Party-driven nature of the UNFCCC process.

Topic: Solutions to Scaling up Climate Finance: Assessing and addressing obstacles to climate finance, including Article 9, paragraph 1, of the Paris Agreement in the context of Article 9 of the Paris Agreement as a whole

Date/time and location: 13 November, 11:00 - 13:00

Location: Meeting Room 2

For further information on the Open Dialogue, please refer to the programme here.

The Observer Forums are an initiative of the COP31 Presidency to facilitate targeted dialogue between Parties and observer organizations that can help unlock implementation priorities and support robust COP31 outcomes. The Observer Forums fall under the SBI Arrangements for Intergovernmental Meetings mandate “recommending current and incoming COP Presidencies to continue to increase the engagement of observer organizations, …, in Presidency initiatives and events" (FCCC/SBI/2024/13, para. 201(a)(ii)).

The COP31 Presidency convened two Observer Forums in the lead up to COP31. Information on both can be found below.

1. Observer Forum on Improving Access to Climate Finance, particularly for SIDS and LDCs -  30 September 2026.

• Programme
• Recording
• Summary

2. Observer Forum on Advancing Electrification: From Ambition to Implementation - 22 October 2026.

• Programme
• Recording
• Summary (available soon)

The process to strengthen observer engagement in the UNFCCC, which began in 2022, identified the need for capacity building so observer participants can be better informed about, and better engaged in, the UNFCCC process. The UNFCCC values the rich discussions and resources that observer organizations bring to the table, which contribute to the legitimacy and transparency of the process.

In response to this, and recognizing the challenges posed by expansive observer participation, the secretariat organizes briefing sessions prior to each conference. These sessions provide practical guidance on logistics and highlight opportunities for in-session engagement for IGOs and NGOs registered for the respective session.

Each session will be informative and interactive, featuring a Q&A segment for further clarification. To cover time zones around the world, the sessions will be organized in two different time slots.

All sessions will be conducted virtually via MS Teams and will be recorded for future reference. Information on the briefing sessions has also been communicated directly to the designated contact points (DCPs) of observer organizations registered for COP 31.

Please find below the presentations, Q&A summaries and recordings (forthcoming) for each session.

• Logistics, Security, and Code of Conduct:
  • Presentation
  • Q&A Summary
  • Recordings:
    • Session I
    • Session II
• Advocacy Actions:
  • Presentation
  • Q&A Summary
  • Recordings:
    • Session I
    • Session II
• Navigating the Process as an Observer:
  • Presentation
  • Q&A Summary
  • Recordings:
    • Session I
    • Session II

Advocacy actions provide an important opportunity for observer organizations to raise awareness and express diverse perspectives on climate change. At COP 30, the secretariat facilitated 118 advocacy actions, demonstrating the continued importance of this space for civil society engagement. 

To support the organization of advocacy actions at COP 31, observers are encouraged to review the following key guidelines. 

General requirements 

• Climate change link: Advocacy actions must clearly link to climate change. 
• Application: The application form will be available shortly before COP 31. Requests must be submitted latest by 10:00 a.m. on the day prior to the proposed action. If information is incomplete, please submit what is available and inform the secretariat at cool@unfccc.int. 
• Time and location: Actions may only take place at authorized times and locations. Specific locations will be determined during the venue walk-through with UNDSS, the secretariat and observer organizations. 

Code of Conduct 

All advocacy actions must comply with the Code of Conduct for UNFCCC events. In particular: 

• Messages and naming: No activity derisory to the United Nations, any of its Member States, organizations or individuals, or criticism contrary to basic rules of decorum, is allowed. Countries, cities, organizations or individuals may not be named, except where: 
  • countries, cities or organizations are referenced in connection with factual extreme weather events or other climate-related impacts; 
  • individuals are named in an honorary, memorial or commemorative context; or 
  • countries are referenced for self-identification (e.g. “I am from [country]”). 

• Safety and security: Participants must follow instructions from UN officials and security personnel, maintain a smooth flow of participants and respect noise levels established during the venue walk-through.

Materials 

• Party flags are not permitted as part of advocacy actions. 
• Banners, signs, props and other materials must be shared with the secretariat in advance so they can be communicated to UNDSS and security personnel as part of an authorized action. 
• Flyers and other materials may only be distributed within designated advocacy action areas. 

Please consult the Observers’ Guide to Advocacy Actions for the complete guidelines.

If you plan to organize a demonstration outside of the Blue Zone, please get in touch with the local authorities. Please see information on how to get in touch with the local authorities here.

The secretariat facilitates side events and exhibits within the UNFCCC conference venue (Blue Zone). Side events and exhibits are a platform for admitted observer organizations, which have limited speaking opportunities in the formal negotiations, to engage with Parties and other participants for knowledge sharing, capacity building, networking, and exploring actionable options for meeting the climate challenge.

For further information on side events and exhibits, please consult the Side Events and Exhibits information page on the official UNFCCC website.

Arrangements for Antalya Leaders Summit and the First Part of the High-Level Segment (HLS) for Heads of State and Government

Below is an overview of access arrangements for admitted IGOs and NGOs. Further information is available here.

Resumed High-Level Segment of COP 31/CMP 21/CMA 8

Timings are subject to changes. Please also consult the live schedule of events for any changes.

Please also consult the summit webpages and the III Message to Parties and observers - Arrangements for Antalya Leaders Summit for further details.

Please be advised that security and fire regulations do not permit participants to stand, and security will enforce this requirement.

All plenary proceedings will be webcast.