COP31: Delegates Stranded for Hours as Transport Crisis Disrupts Climate Summit in Türkiye

Thousands of delegates attending the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, have complained about severe transportation difficulties, with some reportedly spending up to three hours on journeys expected to take about 50 minutes.

The disruptions have affected delegates, government officials, journalists and other participants, many of whom have accused conference organisers of failing to deliver the efficient transportation system promised ahead of the global climate summit.

Some attendees have reportedly waited for hours at designated bus stops in cold weather, while others struggled to board overcrowded buses and trams. Several participants have also resorted to expensive private transportation to reach the conference venue.

The situation has disrupted conference schedules, with some delegates arriving late for meetings, panel discussions and other official activities.

A delegate from Somalia, who spoke to The PUNCH on Tuesday on condition of anonymity, described the transportation challenges as increasingly unbearable.

“Let them cancel the programme and let’s go home. This is stressful. Our health is more important,” the delegate said.

Another participant from the United Kingdom also expressed dissatisfaction, saying the transportation arrangements were affecting attendees’ well-being.

“This conference has been stressful. The transport situation is not helping. There should be alternative solutions,” the participant said.

Complaints have also emerged on social media. A user on X, @drsimevans, described the transportation arrangements as a “total farce”, recounting a journey involving a two-hour bus ride, a forced transfer to an overcrowded tram and significant road congestion.

Another user, @danoladoja, responded: “It’s ridiculous to say the least.”

Antalya is hosting thousands of international participants for COP31, which opened on Monday and is scheduled to run until November 20 at the Antalya Expo Centre. The summit is expected to attract approximately 100,000 participants from nearly 200 countries.

Ahead of the conference, organisers announced complimentary shuttle services connecting Antalya Airport, designated accommodation facilities and the conference venue. The arrangement was designed to make movement easier for participants and reduce reliance on private vehicles.

Official transportation guidance published by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change indicated that free services would operate between the airport, accommodation booked through the official COP31 platform and the conference venue.

Participants were also expected to have access to shuttle buses, the city’s AntRay tram network and a digital transport assistant providing route information and schedule updates.

The official guidance estimated that journeys between accommodation areas and the conference venue would generally take between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on location.

However, several delegates told The PUNCH that actual travel times had been considerably longer.

Some participants staying around Beldibi, Fatih, Otogar and Kemer complained that the free transportation arrangements did not adequately cover their locations, forcing them to pay for private transport.

Others said they had been directed to designated bus stops but waited for extended periods without being picked up, despite the schedules provided through the conference’s official application.

The challenges have been compounded by traffic restrictions introduced by Antalya authorities to accommodate the movement of world leaders and their delegations.

The authorities announced temporary road closures and diversions between November 10 and 12, with some routes reserved for official convoys and other sections reorganised to accommodate public traffic and conference transportation.

The D-400 highway, one of the major roads serving Antalya, has been affected by the arrangements, while access roads leading to the conference venue have been restricted to authorised vehicles and official shuttle services during peak security periods.

The restrictions are expected to intensify on Wednesday, November 11, when the Leaders’ Road will be completely closed to traffic between 7:30 a.m. and noon to facilitate the arrival of world leaders.

Amid the complaints, the COP31 Transport Team sent an email to participants asking them to disregard an earlier system notification about bus schedules. It assured attendees that transportation services were operating according to the published timetable.

The message read, “Please disregard the earlier system message about the bus schedule. All buses are running as scheduled, and the latest timetable is available in the official COP31 app and https://transport.cop31.tr website. We apologize for any inconvenience. Kind regards.”

Another notification on the official conference application warned participants about additional transportation disruptions during the November 11 and 12 Leaders’ Summit.

It stated that shuttle services would operate at increased frequencies between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., while public transport vehicles would not be permitted to depart from the designated security zone after 7 a.m.

Participants travelling to the conference venue from affected areas were therefore advised to make their journeys within the early-morning window to avoid delays caused by security restrictions.

The organisers said detailed route schedules and operational arrangements were being prepared for publication.

Despite the assurances, delegates have continued to call for more frequent shuttle services, reliable adherence to designated bus stops and accurate journey-time information.

The transportation problems have become a major source of frustration at a conference expected to promote global cooperation on sustainability, climate resilience and environmentally friendly development.