Türkiye aims to turn climate targets into measurable action at the COP31 UN climate conference in Antalya in November, Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum has said.
Speaking at the launch of the COP31 Action Agenda in New York on Monday, Kurum said the priority was to translate existing commitments into concrete results and overcome barriers to implementation.
“We are here today not only to introduce the COP31 Action Agenda, but also to discuss together how we can accelerate the transition from targets to implementation in climate action,” said Kurum, who serves as COP31 president.
The event took place at the UN Economic and Social Council Chamber during his visit for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
Kurum said there was broad agreement on the urgency of the climate crisis, with common targets already established and workable solutions available worldwide. The challenge, he said, was putting those solutions into practice by improving access to finance, addressing capacity gaps and matching technology and investment with needs.
“Our approach in this process is based on three fundamental principles: Dialogue. Consensus. Action. Through dialogue, we listen to different needs and priorities. Through consensus, we identify areas for joint action. Through action, we want to turn this partnership into concrete results,” he said.
Targets for implementation
The COP31 Action Agenda comprises 10 priority themes, six global targets, 11 initiatives and 13 supporting outputs, covering areas from energy and industry to cities, food, oceans and health.
Kurum said the agenda was developed through extensive consultations with countries, international organisations, financial institutions, businesses and civil society.
“Our Action Agenda brings common priorities together with measurable targets, concrete initiatives and implementation tools,” he said.
He outlined global targets for 2035 in areas including energy consumption, waste, recycling and carbon dioxide reductions.
“We aim to increase the share of electricity in final energy consumption to 35 percent by 2035. Through the COP31 Global Electrification Initiative, we will accelerate electrification on a global scale,” he said.
Other priorities include climate-resilient cities, action to protect oceans and seas, food security and resilient health systems.
Following a question-and-answer session, Kurum said participants’ recommendations would help shape preparations for the conference.
“We assessed the barriers to implementation, the needs and the areas where we can move forward together. We will reflect the views and recommendations you put forward today in our work in the process leading up to Antalya,” he said.
“However, we do not see Antalya as the final destination. We want Antalya to be a turning point where implementation accelerates in a visible and measurable way.”
UN climate chief Simon Stiell, UN Assistant Secretary-General Selwin Hart, COP30 President Andre Aranha Correa do Lago, COP29 Lead Negotiator Yalcin Rafiyev, COP31 Executive Director Kushla Munro and World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Saulo also addressed the event.
Ministers and deputy ministers from around 20 countries attended alongside representatives of international financial institutions.
COP31 will be held under Türkiye’s presidency at Antalya’s Expo Center from November 9 to 20.
Türkiye-EU climate cooperation
Kurum also met European Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra in New York to discuss Türkiye-EU climate cooperation and preparations for COP31.
“We see COP31 as an important opportunity to take Türkiye-EU climate relations to a more strategic and results-oriented level,” Kurum said.
“We are ready to work closely with the European Commission for a COP31 that translates our climate targets into implementation and commitments into concrete action.”
He also called for active EU contributions to the conference, the Action Agenda’s initiatives and its global implementation goals.
"We would like the European Union to make an active contribution to COP31, the initiatives we have developed under our Action Agenda, and our Global Implementation Goals. I hope our meeting will further strengthen our cooperation,” he added.
