Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change and COP31 President, met with representatives from non-governmental organizations ahead of COP31, which will be hosted by Türkiye in Antalya.
26 February 2026
Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change and COP31 President, met with representatives from non-governmental organizations ahead of COP31, which will be hosted by Türkiye in Antalya.
Speaking at the consultation meeting attended by universities, NGOs, private sector partners, and numerous guests, COP31 President Kurum noted that Türkiye has built the COP31 process on the pillars of 'dialogue, consensus, and action.'
"Our approach will favor dialogue over unilateralism, consensus over division, and action over stagnation. We will now declare that it is ‘time for action, not words.’ We are building our COP31 vision as the ‘COP of the Future: The COP of Implementation.’ We want COP31 to be a summit where decisions are put into practice, rather than just a meeting where they are written down. We have navigated a very challenging process. Following negotiations between our President and other world leaders, we have been assigned with undertaking the Presidency and hosting COP31. When we sought this organization, we believed in our country’s strength, capability, and the potential of all participants. Just as we demonstrated solidarity while organizing Türkiye’s first Climate Council, enacting our first climate law, launching the Zero Waste Project, and carrying out an exemplary reconstruction effort in the earthquake zone, we want to embark on this historic journey with you as our partners in finding solutions,” he stated.
Emphasizing that COP31 will be a turning point in climate action, COP31 President Kurum highlighted the following points:
“We aim to lead a process at COP31 where everyone’s voice is considered”
We aim to lead a process at COP31 where everyone is heard and everyone’s voice is considered. Last week in Istanbul, we held a very important two-day preparatory meeting. Together with our guests from the UNFCCC Secretariat, Australia, Azerbaijan, and Brazil, we produced significant work. We also shared our First Strategic Mission. In our discussions, we evaluated our expectations and priorities toward creating a shared vision for COP31. We clearly expressed our determination that concrete goals must now be supported by concrete steps.
“The world no longer has the luxury of waiting when it comes to climate change”
We have built the COP31 process on three core values: dialogue, consensus, and action. Before expanding on these, I must make an important point.
Today, we are at a new threshold in the climate crisis. The world no longer has the luxury of waiting when it comes to climate change. The issue is no longer just about setting targets; it is about translating those targets into field-level reality and accelerating implementation. COP31, under our presidency and hosting, will be executed with this exact mindset. To reach ultimate goals and implement decisions concretely, we will support tangible applications backed by investment, policy alignment, and public-private partnerships. We will take more decisive steps. Our approach will favor dialogue over unilateralism, consensus over division, and action over stagnation. We will now declare that it is ‘time for action, not words.’ We will call for the implementation of everything that has been discussed so far.”
“The success of these efforts depends on the empowerment of our NGOs”
“We do not view COP31 merely as a diplomatic gathering. We see it as a turning point where implementation accelerates, trust is restored among all nations, and concrete results are produced. We are building our COP31 vision as the ‘COP of the Future: The COP of Implementation.’ Our expectations from non-governmental organizations are very high because you will be the most vital actors in this process. Although COP processes are matters of negotiation between states, the success of these efforts at every platform depends on the empowerment of our NGOs. We are fully aware of the world’s high expectations for COP31. In this period, we have the opportunity to further develop our potential. I believe that by accurately interpreting these expectations, building trust between parties, and producing effective results, we will contribute together.
“An honorable path for humanity will be possible through the decisions made here”
The success of Türkiye, as the host of COP31, is backed by our extensive work in the fight against the climate crisis. Türkiye has become a center for solutions, dialogue, and consensus—leading the world not just through the power of its words, but through its stance, vision, actions, and the deep-rooted systems it represents. Türkiye now stands as the hub for generating solutions to problems arising from the climate crisis. The urgency of the current climate crisis clearly demonstrates that multilateralism at every level remains the only legitimate and most effective ground for protecting humanity’s shared future. An honorable path for humanity will be possible through the decisions made here. While Türkiye serves as the voice for developing nations through its approach to climate justice, just transition, and humanitarian diplomacy, it will also invite developed countries to take responsibility with proposals such as the green economy, green energy, equity, and the loss and damage fund.For us, fighting climate change does not mean restricting life or hindering growth and development. It is not about depriving people of the progress that has been achieved. It is a revolution that spreads prosperity globally and ensures justice and access to food, water, and energy.
“Humanity is waiting for humanity; it is waiting for Türkiye”
Türkiye bears a great responsibility in the fight against the climate crisis. The responsibility to steer the ship of humanity to safe harbors rests upon us. ‘Humanity is waiting for humanity; it is waiting for Türkiye.’ As Türkiye, we will build a global climate architecture and diplomacy that is not affected by daily politics but based on a supra-political approach. COP31 will not just be a conference; it will be a milestone in climate action. We want COP31 to be a summit where decisions are put into practice, rather than just a meeting where they are written down. I believe we will achieve this together. We will build trust. We will reach consensus. We will achieve results in line with our targets on the ground. I invite you to be voluntary ambassadors of climate diplomacy. Let us seize this historic opportunity together to leave a mark on the world.
Director of Climate Change Prof. Halil Hasar
Prof. Halil Hasar, Director of Climate Change, delivered the opening speech at the consultation meeting held in Ankara, which featured simultaneous sessions across five halls under ten thematic headings. Emphasizing the importance of the outcomes from these sessions, Director Hasar stated: “The topics identified for these sessions are directly linked to both our negotiation and action agendas. We believe the resulting proposals will significantly contribute to Türkiye’s strong, inclusive, and constructive stance during the COP31 process.”
Director of Climate Change Hasar noted that they have planned the COP31 process as a turning point for strengthening implementation, and expressed his sincere gratitude to Minister Kurum for his instrumental role in securing Türkiye as the host.
Director Hasar made the following remarks:
“We are maintaining our COP31 preparations within a framework that is open to stakeholder input”
I would like to once again express my deepest gratitude to our Minister, Mr. Murat Kurum, whose powerful leadership and resolute stance during the negotiation processes enabled Türkiye to undertake this historic responsibility, bringing the hosting and presidency of COP31 to our country. The COP31 preparation process is not merely a diplomatic calendar. It aims to accurately interpret the negotiation agenda, take the Global Stocktake (GST) outputs into account, and strengthen the implementation dimension. Therefore, we are maintaining our preparations within a technically deep, data-driven framework that is open to stakeholder input.
The thematic sessions—covering Mitigation, Energy Transition, Just Transition, Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Finance, Zero Waste and Circular Economy, Oceans and Seas, Agriculture and Food Systems, and Youth and Climate Envoys—have been specifically aligned with both the negotiation agenda and the preparations for the COP31 Action Agenda. We believe the feedback and proposals arising from these sessions will significantly bolster Türkiye’s inclusive and constructive approach.
“We do not see COP31 as just another step in the negotiation cycle; we are planning it as a pivotal moment for strengthening implementation”
We do not see COP31 as just another step in the negotiation cycle; we are planning it as a pivotal moment for strengthening implementation. To this end, our decision to activate consultation mechanisms at an early stage was a strategic choice, ensuring that our technical preparations are grounded in a framework capable of delivering concrete outputs.
The “COP31 Consultation Meeting,” attended by governmental agencies, NGOs, universities, and private sector representatives, concluded following a Q&A session.