Over the last years, the effects of climate change have become increasingly perceptible in our daily lives. Despite progress at recent COPs, the gap between actual climate protection efforts and the action required to keep global warming below the 1.5°C limit set out in the Paris Agreement persists.
COP31 will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, under the joint leadership of Türkiye and Australia. The conference will focus on strengthening international climate action, including the adoption of more ambitious national targets and the acceleration of their implementation. Key topics include the expansion of clean electricity generation, reducing waste, and improving energy efficiency in the building sector.
As an accredited observer organization, IKEM will once again contribute its expertise to the conference. Through side events, accompanying research activities, and an on-site delegation, we will engage with current developments in the negotiations and exchange perspectives with decision-makers, researchers, and representatives of civil society from around the world.
IKEM's key topics at COP31
Climate-Security Nexus
Climate change is increasingly recognised as a driver of insecurity, while armed conflicts and geopolitical crises can accelerate environmental degradation and undermine climate action. These interconnected challenges form the climate-security nexus, highlighting the need for governance approaches that strengthen resilience across societies, economies and ecosystems.
- Kalis, Michael, Towards an Energy-Climate-Defence Nexus in the European Union and beyond? – Reflections on concept and assessment of an emerging nexus, Legal Study, IKEM 2024.
- Reinholz, Till/Kopytsia, Ievgeniia/Tanneberger, Franziska, Global Peatland Protection in the Context of the Climate-Security-Nexus: Legal Perspectives on Multi- and Unilateral Developments in the EU, Ukraine, Russia and the US, IKEM Discussion Paper for COP30 (2025).
- Reinholz, Till/Kazak, Rinata/Peters, Jan/Kopytsia, Ievgeniia/Bragger, Jody/Aitken, Angus, Der Schutz und die Wiederherstellung ukrainischer Ökosysteme aus interdisziplinärer und praktischer Perspektive im Kontext des Environmental Peacebuilding, KlimR 2/2025, 44 ff.
Water-Security Nexus
Water security is increasingly shaped by climate change. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events such as droughts and floods are altering the availability, quality, and reliability of freshwater resources worldwide. At the same time, water plays a critical role in climate change mitigation, supporting renewable energy production, nature-based carbon sequestration, and sustainable land management.
- Reinholz, Till/Rodi, Michael, Bodenschutz und Landnutzung als Herausforderungen für Recht und Politik – Deutschland und die Europäische Union, KlimR 10/2025, S. 295-303; available in English on the IKEM website: Soil protection and land use as challenges for climate law and policy– Germany and the European Union.
- Reinholz, Till/Ievgeniia Kopytsia et al., The Restorative Water-Security Nexus: Towards an Integrated Legal Framework for Mitigation, Adaptation, and Hydro-Resilience in Germany and the EU, Iran, and Ukraine (working title, tbd), KlimR 10/2026, forthcoming.
Critical Raw Materials and Strategic Autonomy
Critical raw materials are indispensable for achieving climate neutrality and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy. They are essential components of renewable energy technologies, batteries, electric vehicles, hydrogen systems, and digital infrastructure. As demand continues to grow, ensuring secure and sustainable access to these resources has become a strategic priority for the European Union.
- Rodi, Michael, Sustainable Governance for Critical Raw Materials, forthcoming.
- Baumann, Nils, Strategische Autonomie im Kontext der Energiewende: Herausforderung für die Foreign Subsidies Regulation, KlimR 8/2026, 236 ff.
- Rodi, Michael, After the Green Deal: Security, Resilience, Strategic Autonomy, EACL Climate Law Blog, 2026.
Quelle: Pexels/Ann H 
Quelle: Pixabay/MarreKrisu Anticipatory Governance
Climate change is characterised by deep uncertainty, long-term impacts, and rapidly evolving risks. Traditional governance approaches, which often respond only after crises emerge, are increasingly insufficient to address these complex challenges. Anticipatory governance offers a forward-looking approach that strengthens the capacity of institutions to prepare for future developments before they become urgent.
- Reinholz, Till/Kalis, Michael, Transformatives Recht am Beispiel des Moorbodenschutzes in der Nature Restoration Regulation, KlimR 3/2026, 66 ff.
- Kalis, Michael, Mit Argusaugen in die Klimaneutralität? – Die neue vorausschauende Steuerungsarchitektur des Bundes-Klimaschutzgesetzes, KlimR 12/2025, 354 ff.
Sustainable Energy Transition
Achieving climate neutrality requires a fundamental transformation of the energy system. Renewable electricity, direct electrification, and renewable hydrogen are complementary solutions that enable the decarbonisation of sectors ranging from power generation and transport to industry and heating.
- Rodi, Michael/Saurer, Johannes (Eds), Comparative Perspectives on the Law of Energy Transition in Europe, Nomos 2025.
- Kalis, Michael/Penttinen, Sirja-Leena/Talus, Kim (Eds), Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe, Routledge 2026.
- Kalis, Michael (Ed), The Energy Trilemma in the Baltic Sea Region: Security, Equity and the Environment, Routledge 2024.
- Cherpin, Juliette/Fritsch, David/Krawielicki, Lukas/Strippchen, Lisa S./Wedell, Philine, Bedeutung des NZIA für Erneuerbare-Energien-Ausschreibungen, Wirkweise qualitativer Kriterien bei öffentlichen Ausschreibungen für Windenergie- und Solaranlagen, dena 2025.
- Wedell, Philine/Müller, Joscha, Entwurf einer industriepolitischen Strategie für erneuerbare Energien und Stromnetze, dena 2022.
- Reder, Lucie et al., Carbon Dioxide Removal through forests: an EU policy overview and lessons from Australia and New Zealand, forthcoming.
Quelle: Pixabay/BarneyElo 
