Japan and Eight Other Countries Get 'Fossil of the Day' Award as Their Leaders Skip COP31, Drawing Boos
The Climate Action Network, an international network of environmental groups, on November 10 awarded its satirical "Fossil of the Day" prize to Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands and Canada at the COP31 UN climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, because the leaders of the nine countries skipped the summit's leaders' meeting. The announcement drew loud boos from participants at the venue.
The network, which brings together environmental organizations from more than 130 countries, has presented the award during UN climate conferences since 1999. It said the absence of the nine leaders sent "a dismal signal" for international climate cooperation, that the nine countries appeared to have decided COP31 was no longer important enough to warrant their presence, and that the empty chairs could delay the progress of negotiations.
According to Kyodo News, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is absent from the two-day leaders' meeting for scheduling reasons, the third straight year a Japanese prime minister has skipped the leaders' meeting of the UN climate talks; among Group of Seven leaders, only British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to attend. New Zealand received the award on November 9 over cuts to its climate commitments, while Brazil received the network's "Ray of the Day" award. The fossil award is presented daily during the conference, which runs until November 20.
(Source: Kyodo News)
Source: Kyodo News
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：日本首相高市早苗官方肖像（资料图），她因日程原因缺席本次COP31领导人会议。照片：日本内阁官房内阁广报室摄，CC BY 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Official portrait of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (file photo), who skipped the COP31 leaders' meeting for scheduling reasons. Photo by the Cabinet Public Relations Office of Japan, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Israeli military says it struck a senior Hamas commander in Khan Younis; Hamas confirms Rafah brigade commander Samir Abu Younis was killed2026-11-14
Israeli drone strike kills two Palestinians in Jabaliya, Gaza; hospital says casualties taken to Shifa, military says it struck Hamas militants2026-11-14