As the host and president of COP31, Türkiye has committed to advancing a climate agenda that balances energy security, safeguards the right to development, supports a just transition, and prioritizes concrete implementation.

Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum, who will serve as COP31 president, met International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol in Istanbul to discuss cooperation between the COP31 presidency and the agency on energy transition and the circular economy, The Caspian Post reports, citing Turkish media.

Energy-Climate Nexus

Kurum said around 70% of global emissions are energy-related and that the world now stands at a critical point where energy and climate policies intersect. Recent geopolitical developments and conflicts have exposed the fragility of energy supply chains, raising the strategic importance of energy security. He noted that Europe and other regions have experienced the challenges of dependence on Middle Eastern energy supplies, highlighting the need for a new energy perspective that reduces reliance on single sources, ensures affordable access and accelerates transformation.

Five Priorities

Kurum outlined five priorities for the COP31 action agenda. The first is clean energy transition, noting that about 730 million people worldwide still lack electricity access. The second is zero waste and methane reduction, with the zero waste initiative under First Lady Emine Erdoğan becoming a core COP31 pillar. The third is climate-resilient cities, as global building floor area is expected to grow 45% by 2050. The fourth is establishing a climate action implementation mechanism to bridge the gap between global targets and national plans. The fifth is green industrialization, requiring structural transformation of industry in line with net-zero targets.

Zero Waste Expansion

Kurum announced new regulations restricting non-recyclable single-use plastic products such as plates, forks and knives are being prepared, expected to enter force in August or September. Under the Zero Waste Project, Türkiye currently recycles about 40% of its waste and aims to increase this rate further. The COP31 presidency aims to expand the zero waste concept across areas ranging from plastic recycling and landfill management to renewable energy.

Climate Crisis Warning

The minister warned that the climate crisis has reached a critical threshold, pointing to rising forest fires, drought, water scarcity and biodiversity loss. He noted the annual global cost of drought stands at about $307 billion while nearly 4 billion people experience severe water scarcity annually. About 3.7 million square kilometers of forest were lost to wildfires between 2024 and 2025, while 35% of the world's wetlands have disappeared since 1970.

COP31 Framework

The 31st session will take place in Türkiye in November - mainly in Antalya, with the World Leaders Summit expected in Istanbul - under a partnership arrangement with Australia. Nearly 200 countries are expected to attend to discuss emission reduction targets, climate finance, adaptation measures and carbon market rules. Kurum said the COP31 presidency's approach rests on three core principles: dialogue, consensus and action, aiming to build an inclusive platform that strengthens trust and ensures decisions translate into measurable implementation.