The 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP31, which is expected to play a significant role in shaping global climate policy, will be held under Türkiye’s presidency in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026. The eyes and ears of the world will therefore be on Türkiye.
Sustainability needs to be strategically positioned. Why? Because sustainability has become one of the key drivers of a world undergoing profound transformation. Those who anticipate long-term change and remain committed to it will undoubtedly be the true winners, while the COPs have a critical role to play in shaping the trajectory of our planet. Against the backdrop of the challenging period the world is currently navigating, the importance of interpreting these developments through a sustainability strategy is increasingly evident. In this respect, COP31 represents a major opportunity for Türkiye to accelerate its green transformation and showcase its progress to the international community.
In their early years, COPs were primarily focused on climate negotiations and the establishment of commitments. In recent years, however, they have come to be assessed not only on the decisions adopted, but also on how inclusive and trust-based the process is and on the institutional and political legacy they leave in host countries after the summits conclude. Beyond organizing the summit itself, any host country is increasingly regarded as a key actor in safeguarding the credibility, continuity and legitimacy of global climate and sustainability governance. COP31 therefore has the potential to create a strategic repositioning opportunity for Türkiye in terms of climate diplomacy, industrial transformation and regional leadership.
Türkiye Can Play an Active Role in Climate Finance
Of course, COPs will continue to address the major global challenges surrounding climate policy. Strengthening and operationalizing financing mechanisms to support developing countries in their climate mitigation and adaptation efforts will be among the most important items on the agenda. Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and President of COP31, has already announced that Türkiye will play an active role in ensuring that climate finance reaches developing countries directly, particularly those most severely affected by the climate crisis.
Adaptation strategies, infrastructure investments and their financing will be on the agenda as countries seek to address the impacts of climate change, including droughts, floods and extreme weather events. Another key priority will be ensuring the effective functioning of loss and damage mechanisms, particularly for countries that are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change while bearing the least historical responsibility for global emissions. At the same time, ensuring a just transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, without leaving anyone behind, will undoubtedly remain one of the summit’s most significant priorities. COP31 President Kurum has also emphasized that the world must move away from fossil fuels.
COP31 Offers Türkiye an Opportunity to Become a Genuine Turning Point
Against this backdrop, Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency will carry particular significance given the prevailing global geopolitical and economic environment. Türkiye has established its 2053 Net Zero target and has already begun taking steps toward achieving it. It is also initiating the transformation required across sectors within the scope of alignment with the European Union Green Deal. At the same time, Türkiye is positioning COP31 as an implementation-oriented and bridge-building platform for climate action. There is no reason why the country should not seize this opportunity to redefine its role in the international climate arena and create a genuine turning point.
Preparations for the Summit are also progressing at full pace. In this context, targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions and sector-specific transformation roadmaps are being further elaborated. Institutional coordination among public authorities, local governments, universities and the private sector is also being strengthened throughout the preparatory process. Projects focusing particularly on the circular economy, waste management and resource efficiency are expected to constitute some of the most tangible implementation approaches that Türkiye plans to showcase at COP31.
As part of its diplomatic preparations, Türkiye is intensifying engagement with different regional blocs and country groups in an effort to build common ground around shared priorities. At the same time, broad-based awareness and public engagement campaigns are being launched to broaden climate action and embed it more deeply across society. Within the scope of the Summit’s organization, Türkiye also aims to ensure that venues are designed in line with sustainability principles, the carbon footprint is minimized, and environmentally responsible practices are integrated throughout the organization.
Achieving these objectives will place significant responsibilities on Türkiye’s public administration. Among the most critical priorities will be the enactment of a climate law, the update of the Nationally Determined Contribution for emissions reduction, the definition of sector-specific responsibilities in line with climate policy objectives, and the establishment of an emissions trading system. Companies, meanwhile, will focus on transitioning to green energy, investing in energy efficiency, adopting low-carbon production technologies, particularly in the highest-emitting sectors, and enhancing transparency in corporate sustainability reporting. One of the most strategic pillars of COP31 for Türkiye will undoubtedly be the financial sector. The transformation of capital markets, the integration of carbon risk into banks’ credit risk management frameworks, the channeling of capital toward renewable energy projects, and the scaling up of green finance through instruments such as climate funds and green bonds will be among the sector’s key priorities.
Türkiye Has a Major Opportunity to Advance the Transformation and Resilience Agenda
For Türkiye, hosting COP31 offers an opportunity to assume a more visible role in international climate policy, while also bringing challenges faced by the Mediterranean region, such as drought and water management, to the forefront of the global agenda. Extreme temperatures, water scarcity, drought and wildfires are becoming increasingly frequent across the region. Accordingly, hosting the Summit in a Mediterranean city such as Antalya is likely to place greater emphasis on issues including climate adaptation, water management and resilient cities.
At the same time, Türkiye has the opportunity to demonstrate its capacity to address the transformation agenda across energy, industry and investment alongside the resilience agenda encompassing disaster risk, water management, agriculture and urbanization. Its geographical and economic position enables it to bring these two agendas together within a common policy framework.
The Summit will also be highly significant in terms of providing strong momentum for Türkiye to raise its climate ambitions, accelerate renewable energy investments and promote the transition toward a green economy. It could open new avenues for access to the technology and financing required to address climate change, while also providing civil society organizations with an important platform to bring the climate agenda to broader audiences and influence policymaking processes.
As COPs increasingly focus on accelerating implementation and serve as platforms that enhance the visibility of best practices while bringing diverse stakeholders together within a common framework, COP31 in Antalya is also likely to provide a setting for intensified discussions on how to bridge the gap between targets and implementation. Türkiye’s role as a bridge-builder could, in this context, demonstrate its diplomatic capacity to make these linkages more visible and highlight the points of balance that can enable meaningful progress.
Date: 20 May 2026
