Scotland to Push Fairer Climate Finance and Loss and Damage Funding at COP31

Scotland will use the COP31 climate summit in Antalya to press for fairer COP31 climate finance, more funding for communities hit by loss and damage, and reform of a global debt system that stops climate-vulnerable countries investing in resilience. Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin set out the priorities on 27 October 2026, ahead of the summit that runs from 9 to 20 November 2026.

Championing climate justice, Martin said Scotland will argue for finance that is increased, fairer and more accessible to affected communities, with support for locally led action that puts women, disabled people and Indigenous Peoples at the heart of climate solutions.

Fairer COP31 climate finance for the Global South

Martin will call for reform of the global debt system, which she said prevents climate-vulnerable countries from investing in resilience. She also plans to work with partners in the Global South to amplify their key priorities in the negotiations, and to highlight Scotland’s expertise in community-led climate action at the Subnational Investment Forum and the Regions4 Board of Chairs meeting.

“Communities in the Global South have done the least to cause the climate crisis but are undoubtedly facing its worst impacts,” Martin said. “Unsustainable debt repayments are stopping those in the Global South investing in health, education and infrastructure, and the global finance architecture must change if we are going to increase climate resilience.”

Scotland’s climate justice record

The Scottish Government has already delivered £36 million for climate justice in the last parliamentary term, including £10 million for loss and damage, according to the announcement. Martin said Scotland will increase its Climate Justice Fund from £36 million to support communities in the Global South, keeping its focus on addressing loss and damage.

Scotland was the first developed country to pledge funding for loss and damage, a point underlined by Amanda Grimm, advocacy lead for Stop Climate Chaos Scotland. “Small nations can play an outsized part in advancing international climate action,” Grimm said, welcoming Scotland’s representation at COP31 at what she called a critical juncture.

Disability inclusion and adaptation events

Martin will also demonstrate Scotland’s leadership on climate justice through loss and damage, adaptation and disability inclusion events at the summit. Mark Barrell, Director of Advocacy at CBM UK-Global Disability Inclusion, welcomed Scotland’s attendance and its delivery of disability-inclusive climate justice programmes through its Climate Justice Fund, saying climate justice cannot be achieved without disability inclusion.

COP31 in Antalya: the implementation summit

COP31, the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026, under the presidency of Murat Kurum, with Australia leading the negotiations. The summit is billed as an implementation COP, focused on turning existing commitments into action.

The finance debate comes as the UN Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report, published on 21 October 2026, found that current policies put the world on course for about 2.8 degrees Celsius of warming, and that full delivery of the new national pledges would still leave warming near 2.6 degrees. Scotland’s intervention adds a subnational voice to the finance talks, with Martin serving as President of Regions4 and outgoing European co-chair of the Under2 coalition.

Read more on COP31 cities and climate action: Global South cities carry Delhi Declaration to COP31 in Antalya.

FAKTA

• Scotland’s Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin will attend COP31 in Antalya, 9 to 20 November 2026.
• Priorities: fairer and more accessible climate finance, more loss and damage funding, and global debt system reform.
• Scotland has delivered £36 million for climate justice, including £10 million for loss and damage.
• Martin is President of Regions4 and outgoing European co-chair of the Under2 coalition.
• Scotland was the first developed country to pledge loss and damage funding.

Frequently asked questions

What is COP31?

COP31 is the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026, where governments negotiate climate action under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

What does Scotland want from COP31?

Scotland wants fairer, more accessible climate finance for affected communities, more funding for loss and damage, and reform of the global debt system so vulnerable countries can invest in resilience.

What is loss and damage funding?

Loss and damage funding supports countries and communities facing climate impacts they cannot adapt to, such as destroyed homes, lost harvests and damaged infrastructure from floods, droughts and storms.

How much has Scotland spent on climate justice?

According to the Scottish Government, it delivered £36 million for climate justice in the last parliamentary term, including £10 million for loss and damage, and plans to increase the Climate Justice Fund.

What are Regions4 and the Under2 coalition?

Regions4 is a network of regional and subnational governments working on climate action, and the Under2 coalition brings together states and regions committed to keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. Gillian Martin holds leadership roles in both.