Turkey prepares to host COP31 climate summit in Antalya

Turkey is preparing to host the COP31 climate conference in Antalya. Kasım Yenigün, General Manager of Combating Desertification and Erosion at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, stated that this upcoming conference is expected to differ from previous ones by shifting from mere commitments to concrete actions.

According to Yenigün, 2026 is designated as a ‘triple COP year,’ where United Nations conferences regarding biodiversity, desertification, and climate change will be held in succession. Because Turkey is a party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and the Convention on Biological Diversity, the hosting of COP31 carries significant weight alongside these other upcoming summits.

The agenda for COP31 includes a wide range of topics such as zero waste, electrification, climate bridges, Rio synergy, and the protection of seas and oceans. Preparations are currently underway, including negotiations with Australia and activities within the Turkish pavilion at the UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.