ANTALYA: The COP31 Presidency on Friday launched the Climate Implementation Bridge (BRIDGE), a new initiative to turn national climate plans into bankable projects, at a high-level meeting in the Blue Zone of the Antalya Expo Center. Pakistan is among the first pilot countries taking part in the initiative. Muhammad Adnan, Chairman and Founder of the Global Climate Change Torch (GCCT), was present at the launch.
The launch meeting, titled “Beyond Commitments: Delivering Climate Action at Scale”, was held from 14:00 to 15:30 in Room Likya (SPE-2) in the Special Events Area of the Blue Zone, on the COP31 Finance and Trade Day. Delegates from governments, international organisations and the private sector sat around the table for the launch of the Presidency’s legacy initiative.
The launch included a signing ceremony, with representatives of the COP31 Presidency (Türkiye), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) signing agreements in front of the COP31 backdrop.
What the Bridge does
BRIDGE is designed to match country climate plans with finance and partners, so that commitments made under the Paris Agreement can be turned into projects ready for investment. It is not a new fund or a new financing mechanism. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the delivery partner for the initiative.
COP31 President Murat Kurum launched the Bridge at the United Nations General Assembly and New York Climate Week in September 2026. Speaking in New York, Kurum said: “Climate ambition without finance is like an EV without a battery — it won’t go anywhere.” Work began with scoping in October 2026, and the Antalya launch opens the second cohort of countries and new partner commitments. The first financial closes are expected in 2027 and 2028.
Pakistan among the first pilots
The first pilot countries are Ethiopia, Fiji, Indonesia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Pakistan’s Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal, addressed the launch meeting in Antalya.
Pakistan has been pressing at COP31 for climate justice and for climate finance that does not add to the debt burden of developing countries. The country has submitted two projects totalling 39.9 million US dollars to the Loss and Damage Fund, with no disbursement yet, and hopes for approval by December. Pakistan has also added 20 gigawatts of solar power in two years.
GCCT president in the room
Muhammad Adnan, Chairman and Founder of the Global Climate Change Torch (GCCT) and Climate News Editor at Watan News International, also attended the launch meeting. GCCT is presenting its artificial intelligence project for climate action at COP31.
Finance and Trade Day
The launch took place on the COP31 Finance and Trade Day, dedicated to green transformation, climate investment, green finance, value chains and carbon markets. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the COP31 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya on 11 and 12 November, and the Pakistan Pavilion is hosting 54 events during the conference. Adnan is leading the GCCT delegation at COP31.
