Climate hope meets hard reality: Is COP31 worth all the fuss?

From waste incinerators and private jets to climate justice, delegates grapple with contradictions and the urgency of global action

Greenpeace activists stand beside a six-metre-tall wooden Trojan Horse, an installation created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, spilling plastic waste from inside during a protest action against fossil fuel and plastic production at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (Cop31). Photo: Ozan Kose / AFP via Getty Images

On one of the shuttle buses into Cop31, you could meet a young climate researcher from the Solomon Islands, a veteran deforestation negotiator from Panama, or a smart science influencer from Australia.

While the affability of the multicultural gathering is infectious, and hope from young activists palpable, is the key climate conference worth the fuss?