Turkey’s leadership is promising to make the upcoming global climate conference about delivering results rather than empty pledges, as the nation prepares to host the COP31 summit this November.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum emphasized that securing financing represents the top priority, with developing nations requiring close to $1 trillion to achieve their climate objectives. Speaking at a diplomatic gathering in Antalya over the weekend, Kurum stressed the importance of raising public consciousness about environmental policies while global conflicts and security issues capture most of the world’s attention.
“Important decisions have been taken in every COP so far. We will follow up these decisions, but what is essential is putting them into practice. The expectation of the world, of humanity from us is to move to practice,” Kurum stated during his interview.
The minister called for concrete steps to fulfill the nationally determined contributions that countries have established, noting that some nations have yet to submit their plans. “Let’s take steps to realise the NDCs that countries have put forth – and there are some countries who have not put them forward,” he explained.
Despite acknowledging that conflicts are unavoidable, Kurum indicated Turkey would urge all nations to consider the broader perspective and recognize the urgent dangers that climate change presents.
The yearly COP gathering serves as the primary international platform for advancing climate action. Scientific consensus confirms that climate change is occurring, primarily driven by human activity, and continues to worsen due to greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels that trap heat in the atmosphere.
Following extended negotiations last year, Turkey and Australia reached an arrangement where Turkey will serve as host and president of COP31, while Australia will guide the negotiation proceedings. The conference is scheduled for November in Turkey’s southern Antalya province.
Kurum, who will serve as COP31 President, described Turkey’s vision for making the gathering “the COP of implementation,” prioritizing concrete actions over verbal commitments.
“We want all countries to hand in their NDCs by COP31. We are working for this, we are also working for this within the U.N.,” he said, noting that developing nations need $150 million in funding assistance to develop their national contribution plans.
Last year’s COP30 faced criticism for failing to establish firm agreements on language promoting the worldwide elimination of fossil fuel use.
When questioned about addressing this issue at COP31, Kurum explained that Turkey plans to pressure countries to implement previous decisions on fossil fuels while acknowledging that necessary transition technologies require further advancement.
He noted that Turkey currently relies on both renewable sources and fossil fuels to maintain energy independence and meet domestic needs, but would transition away from fossil fuels if more affordable technological alternatives become available.
“We must bring moving away from fossil fuels to the global agenda by providing a transition period. During COP31, we will put into effect those partial decisions taken in COP30,” Kurum concluded.
