Nine Nations Win Climate Group's Fossil of the Day
Climate Action Network gave its satirical prize to Japan and eight other countries whose leaders skipped the COP31 U.N. climate talks in Turkey.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Environmental
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The Climate Action Network awarded its satirical "Fossil of the Day" prize on Tuesday to Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada, and Japan, announced at the COP31 venue in Antalya, Turkey. The leaders of the nine countries did not attend the ongoing U.N. climate conference, and participants booed loudly during the announcement.
Why it matters
The award highlights the absence of senior political leaders from the COP31 talks, which the group framed as a sign of weakened commitment to climate action. The group presents the prize several times at each U.N. climate conference, and it draws on environmental organizations from more than 130 countries.
The award tallies nine national governments singled out from a network of environmental groups spanning more than 130 countries. Not addressed in the source is whether the recipient governments will change their attendance plans for later sessions.
The players
Climate Action Network
An international coalition of environmental groups from more than 130 countries that campaigns for stronger climate policy and presents the Fossil of the Day award at U.N. climate conferences.
The details
At the COP31 venue in Antalya, the Climate Action Network announced the satirical prize, which it presents several times during each U.N. climate conference. The group cited the absence of leaders from the nine countries as the reason for the award, and the announcement drew loud boos from the audience.
Timeline
Tuesday: Fossil of the Day prize awarded at COP31 in Antalya, Turkey.
August: Major mudslides struck Nepal, triggered by glacier collapses linked to global warming.
Seasonal Patterns
The Climate Action Network has presented its Fossil of the Day award repeatedly across successive U.N. climate conferences, and this year's nine-country award continues that recurring format. Coming after August's glacier-linked mudslides in Nepal, the award places leader attendance alongside observed climate impacts in the group's messaging.
Leader attendance at U.N. climate talks shapes which national commitments are negotiated in person, so an absence can shift how a country's position is represented. Readers tracking national climate policy can watch whether the nine recipient governments send leaders to future COP sessions.
The takeaway
Attendance by top leaders at climate summits is one visible signal of political priority, and advocacy groups now use public awards to make that absence visible. Watching who shows up at the next conference offers a direct measure of follow-through.
Further reading
For more on the policy fight behind the award, see the Environmental coverage on Wisevoter.
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