Turkey pushes climate agenda ahead of COP31 at London events

Turkey’s environment and finance ministers highlighted the country’s climate priorities during a series of meetings in London’s Climate Action Week. Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek warned that climate inaction poses a greater economic risk than the cost of mitigation and cited the need for about $2.5 trillion a year in financing for developing nations, far above the current $200 billion flow. He introduced the “Climate Implementation Bridge” to match climate projects with funding.

Environment Minister Murat Kurum and Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar met with UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres and discussed the COP31 agenda, energy security, renewable‑energy targets and circular‑economy initiatives. In a separate forum, Kurum addressed the business community, urging private‑sector investment to turn climate pledges into concrete projects and stressing a target of 35 % electricity consumption by 2035.

Bayraktar presented Turkey’s energy‑transition roadmap, calling for a $200 billion investment package that includes $30 billion for a high‑voltage transmission corridor, $80 billion for grid upgrades and a push to triple renewable capacity by 2035. He also emphasized the country’s role as a regional hub for critical minerals and clean‑energy technology.

Separately, the Antalya Mavi Akdeniz Initiative briefed stakeholders on the dual‑zone layout (Blue and Green Zones) of the upcoming COP31 site, projecting daily visitor numbers of 150 000 and promoting the event as a catalyst for tourism and marine‑environment protection in Turkey.