The first official meeting has taken place following Türkiye’s assumption of the COP31 presidency and host status.

21 January 2026

The first official meeting has taken place following Türkiye’s assumption of the COP31 presidency and host status.

Representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat convened at the Antalya EXPO site for the first formal session marking the start of the COP31 preparatory process.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Fatma Varank, Deputy Minister Burak Demiralp, Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin, and Director of Climate Change Prof. Dr. Halil Hasar, alongside representatives from relevant ministries. The United Nations delegation was represented by Noura Hamladji, Deputy Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change, who was accompanied by UN experts in operations, logistics, venue planning, transportation, and security.

The meeting focused on a comprehensive range of topics, including the vision for the COP31 Presidency, the transition from COP30, and the presentation of proposed governance structures. The agenda also marked the official launch of the COP31 mission and featured detailed briefings on the EXPO site, architectural layouts, and a holistic overview of the COP31 operational plans.

The program opened with remarks from Deputy Minister Fatma Varank and UN Deputy Executive Secretary Noura Hamladji, followed by a presentation from Director of Climate Change Hasar. In his address, Director Hasar emphasized the strategic weight Türkiye places on COP31 and provided comprehensive organizational details regarding the venue and timing of the conference. Director Hasar made several landmark declarations regarding the COP to be hosted in Türkiye.
Noting that the nation is fully prepared for its global duties, he made the following remarks:

“Türkiye’s responsibility is clear and definitive”
Türkiye serves as both the COP president and the host nation. In this capacity, Türkiye’s responsibility is clear and definitive. Under the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Türkiye is the primary interlocutor. Türkiye is responsible for meeting the mandatory requirements for signing and executing the Host Country Agreement.