Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, is currently uncertain about his attendance at the COP31 conference, which will be held on November 11 and 12 in Antalya, Turkey. This conference is recognized as his last meeting during his two presidential terms and usually involves leaders from various countries.
Conflict with Other Events
The scheduling of this conference coincides with the memorial ceremony for the end of World War I and the Paris Peace Forum. This conflict in Macron's calendar makes attending this event difficult for him. Two advisors from the French government have pointed out that while the likelihood of his presence in Turkey on November 12 is low, it is not completely ruled out.
Delegating Responsibility to Others
Macron's interest in climate conferences seems to be less compared to the early days of his presidency. He has prioritized inviting the Minister of Transition to the Environment, Bérangère Couillard, to participate in the pre-COP taking place from October 3 to 8 in Fiji. This behavior is clearly in contrast to his approach at the beginning of his presidency when he presented himself as the heir to the Paris Agreement.
In June 2017, Macron quickly garnered global reactions with his famous speech titled "Make Our Planet Great Again" following the announcement of the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. But now, ten years later, many of his environmental achievements from his first term have been affected during his second term.
Challenges and Expectations
Last year, Macron also had doubts about his attendance at the global climate summit, announcing his decision only a week before it took place. Ultimately, he was present in Brazil for just a few hours and participated only minimally in the tenth anniversary celebration of the Paris Agreement. His absence from the last global climate conference could damage his image as an environmental supporter on the international stage.
