As COP31, which will be hosted by Türkiye in Antalya on 9–20 November, draws closer, there is a hopeful sense of anticipation among most countries, individuals and institutions, particularly within the sphere of climate diplomacy. The most important reason for this, of course, is that the window of opportunity to take meaningful decisions and put them into action for the future of our planet is steadily narrowing.
This sense of hope has emerged ahead of every COP summit to date. However, the Antalya summit is generating even greater anticipation due to one key distinction: the COP31 Presidency has officially stated that this will be an “Implementation COP”. The summit has an extensive agenda, ranging from ensuring a just transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and clarifying adaptation indicators, to promoting investments in green industry and green technologies, keeping global warming within 1.5°C, and strengthening the implementation mechanisms of the Loss and Damage Fund.
Target: Halving Waste Generation by 2035
However, two other major areas that could set Antalya apart from previous COP summits are the waste and electrification targets announced under the summit’s Action Agenda. Moreover, these will be direct and measurable targets for 2035. Of course, these targets do not yet constitute binding decisions adopted through the COP31 negotiations. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) specifically notes that the formal negotiations and the Action Agenda are “separate but parallel and complementary” processes. Nevertheless, the fact that the Türkiye COP31 Presidency has set these implementation targets under the Global Climate Action Agenda is highly significant in itself.
Under the Action Agenda announced by the COP31 Presidency in Bonn in June, a target was unveiled under the “zero waste” pillar to halve the growth in global waste generation by 2035. In this context, the aim is also to increase the global circular material use rate to at least 15%. Other priorities include methane emissions from organic waste, methane capture and conversion into energy, and the reuse of secondary raw materials in industry. In connection with the waste target, the COP31 Presidency has also tasked the International Energy Agency (IEA) with analysing the benefits of halving waste growth and implementing circular waste management systems. Taken together, these initiatives mean that, for the first time, the issue of waste will be addressed at a COP summit in such a comprehensive and implementation-oriented manner.
Towards the Age of Electrification
COP31 has also set significant targets for electrification. Among the most prominent is the goal of increasing electricity’s share of global final energy consumption from approximately 23% today to 35% by 2035.
The COP31 Presidency does not approach electrification solely from the perspective of the energy sector. It also defines electrification as part of the transformation of buildings, transport and industry. In this context, another global objective is to reduce the energy intensity of the building sector by at least 25% by 2035.
The Presidency also considers increasing renewable energy generation, modernising electricity grids, improving energy efficiency, expanding access to energy in developing countries, and increasing financing in this field to be integral components of its electrification targets. In addition, a letter sent by the COP31 Presidency to third parties states that global electricity demand is expected to grow by an annual average of 3.6% between 2026 and 2030. It also notes that approximately 666 million people still lack access to electricity, while around 2 billion people do not have access to clean cooking solutions.
Waste-to-Energy Will Also Be on the Agenda in Antalya
Waste-to-energy is another key component of COP31’s zero-waste agenda. As is well known, when organic waste decomposes under anaerobic conditions as a result of uncontrolled disposal, methane gas is released. The COP31 Presidency does not address the waste issue separately from methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and has placed the reduction of waste-related methane emissions at the heart of its Action Agenda. Indeed, the concept of waste-to-energy is explicitly included in Türkiye’s Climate Ambassadors glossary for COP31, where it is defined as the generation of electricity, heat or fuel from non-recyclable waste. This form of energy generation offers many advantages, including making use of resources that would otherwise go to waste and reducing the volume of waste sent to landfill.
10% of Municipal Waste in Türkiye Is Converted into Energy
Striking the right balance between recycling, waste prevention and energy recovery is becoming an increasingly important element in achieving climate and energy targets, particularly in the European Union in recent years, while minimising environmental impacts, including emissions.
The process of generating electricity and/or heat by incinerating non-recyclable waste, thereby eliminating the need for landfill disposal, is becoming spreading rapidly across Europe as a cost-effective way of reducing emissions. The European Commission’s 2026 AccelerateEU energy plan also identifies waste-to-energy, for the first time, as part of Europe’s domestic energy resource base.
As the global population continues to grow and economies expand, the increase in municipal solid waste is creating challenges for ecological sustainability. In this context, waste-to-energy is playing an increasingly important role. As this approach becomes more widespread globally, Türkiye has also increasingly adopted this solution for municipal waste in recent years. According to waste statistics published by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), municipalities in Türkiye collect approximately 32.3 million tonnes of waste annually, and around 10% of the collected waste is converted into energy and utilised in processes such as electricity and heat generation. Türkiye’s installed electricity generation capacity from biomass and waste heat has reached approximately 2.5 GW.
In short, the Antalya summit is approaching with a highly ambitious agenda. Significant developments are expected across its key areas, particularly its far-reaching zero-waste agenda. The question now is whether COP31 will make history by delivering on these targets for the future of our planet. A planet where waste becomes a thing of the past—why not?
Date: 23 September 2026
