From November 9 to 20, 2026, the Turkish city of Antalya hosts COP31, the United Nations Climate Change Conference. For mundane astrology, the branch that studies planetary cycles in relation to collective events, the timing stands out: the summit opens on the very day of the New Moon in Scorpio, with Mercury and Venus retrograde and with Saturn and Neptune in Aries. At Aspectados we look at the cycles astrologers are watching around this event, always from a symbolic perspective and without anticipating outcomes.

What Mundane Astrology Represents

Mundane astrology doesn't analyze individuals but countries, institutions and collective moments. Its symbolism includes:

Inception charts: the moment an event begins is read as its "birth chart."
Slow-planet cycles: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto mark the climate of an era.
Lunations: New and Full Moons are used as "snapshots" of the collective mood.
Correlation, not causation: astrologers look for symbolic coincidences between the sky and history, not cause-and-effect relationships.

If you are interested in the broader take on climate and astrology, read our article on Saturn, Neptune and the climate crisis. Here we focus on the specific dates and sky of COP31.

COP31: Key Facts

Venue: Antalya Expo Center, Antalya (Turkey).
Dates: November 9 to 20, 2026.
Shared arrangement: Turkey is the host and handles logistics, with Turkish Environment Minister Murat Kurum serving as COP president, while Australia's Chris Bowen presides over the negotiations. It is an unusual division of roles.
Pacific prelude: a pre-COP was planned in Fiji from October 5 to 8, with a leaders' event in Tuvalu, placing the Pacific islands at the symbolic center of the process.

The Sky Over COP31

The New Moon in Scorpio on November 9

The New Moon occurs on November 9 at 07:02 UTC, at around 16°53' Scorpio, the same day as the opening. Astrologers associate New Moons with beginnings, and Scorpio with what is hidden, shared resources, debt and deep transformation. In a climate context, Scorpio is often linked to common finances and to whatever must "die" so that something new can be born. A summit that opens under this lunation is, symbolically, tied to underlying issues rather than surface gestures.

Mercury and Venus Retrograde

At the opening, Mercury is retrograde in Scorpio, just a few degrees from the New Moon, and Venus is retrograde as well. Both turn direct on November 13, during the first week of the summit. Astrologers traditionally associate Mercury retrograde with revising texts, renegotiation and delays, and Venus retrograde with reviewing agreements and values. Both planets changing direction during the conference coincides symbolically with a process in which drafts and consensus typically evolve day by day.

Saturn and Neptune in Aries

The backdrop of 2026 is the Saturn-Neptune conjunction at 0° Aries, exact on February 20. Astrologers associate this cycle with the end of one era and the start of another in the relationship between structures (Saturn) and collective ideals (Neptune). In Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, the symbolism is one of restarting. Neptune, modern ruler of the oceans, is retrograde from roughly July 5 to December 11, 2026, meaning throughout the summit, a reviewing tone that many astrologers connect with themes of water and sea levels.

Pluto in Aquarius and the North Node

Pluto has been in Aquarius since November 2024 and turned direct on October 15-16, 2026. Astrologers link this long transit with transformations in technology, networks and collective structures. In addition, the North Node has been in Aquarius since July 26, 2026, a point that tradition connects with collective evolutionary direction, in this case toward cooperation and the common good.

Uranus in Gemini and Jupiter in Leo

Uranus, retrograde in Gemini since September 10, is associated with changes in communication, transport and information. Jupiter in Leo since June 30 adds a tone of leadership and public visibility, which astrologers relate to the prominence of the figures who chair international gatherings.

A Summit Entirely Within Scorpio Season

Scorpio season began on October 23, and the Sun remains in this sign for every day of the conference, from the opening to the closing session. The summit also unfolds during the waxing phase of the lunar cycle that the New Moon begins: night after night, the Moon gains light. Astrologers associate this phase with the growth of what has been planted, the accumulation of effort and step-by-step building. Symbolically, it fits a gathering whose work develops gradually over almost two weeks.

Why an Inception Chart Matters

In mundane astrology, the opening moment of an international meeting is often treated like a small birth chart. Astrologers look at where the Moon is, which planets are angular and which are changing direction, and then compare those themes with the agenda being discussed. The exercise is interpretive: it does not tell us what will be signed, but it offers a vocabulary for reflecting on the mood of the moment. In the case of COP31, the dominant notes are depth (Scorpio), review (the retrogrades) and new beginnings (Saturn and Neptune at the start of Aries).

How to Read This Kind of Analysis

Correlation, not a fixed forecast: mundane astrology describes symbolic climates, not the concrete results of a negotiation.
Watch the key dates: the opening (November 9), Mercury and Venus turning direct (November 13) and the close (November 20).
Compare with reality: agreements depend on political, economic and scientific factors. Astrology can offer a complementary lens for reflection.
Bring it into your life: the New Moon in Scorpio also activates an area of your own birth chart; it may be a good time to review your personal relationship with consumption and resources.

Conclusion

COP31 in Antalya opens under a sky full of symbolism: a New Moon in Scorpio, two personal planets retrograde and turning direct during the summit, and the great Saturn-Neptune cycle in Aries as the backdrop. Astrologers will read these coincidences as a call for depth and review, while the outcome of the negotiations rests with the participants. If you want to know how these transits resonate in your personal chart, explore your birth chart at Aspectados, the AI-powered astrology platform.

COP31 in Antalya (November 9-20, 2026): The Climate Summit Through Mundane Astrology