Murat Kurum, COP31 President and Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, briefed representatives from over 100 countries at the UN General Assembly regarding Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency and hosting process.
30 March 2026
Murat Kurum, COP31 President and Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, briefed representatives from over 100 countries at the UN General Assembly regarding Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency and hosting process.
Prof. Halil Hasar, Director of Climate Change, accompanied Minister Kurum during the U.S. visit. In his address to the General Assembly, Minister Kurum highlighted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s vision for “a fairer world,” stating: “We are currently preparing the Antalya Declaration, which addresses the issue at the leadership level. We intend to finalize it at COP31 by incorporating the views of participating nations.
By holding the Leaders' Summit on November 11-12, we are demonstrating a high level of resolve to carry COP31 into the future. We have also opened the Action Agenda for consultation; after receiving feedback by mid-April, we will complete this work in May. Following an event in June, we will make the Action Agenda operational. Our beautiful city of Antalya, a global tourism favorite, is ready to host tens of thousands of climate volunteers.”
The session, during which COP31 President and Minister Kurum briefed Permanent Representatives to the UN General Assembly, was attended by delegates from over 100 countries, alongside Selwin Hart, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action, and senior officials from the UNDP, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 15 UN agencies as well as representatives from previous COP Presidencies.
“Türkiye Maintains a Solution-Oriented Stance to Ensure Peace and Stability”
Opening his speech by highlighting regional tensions in the Middle East, the energy crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, and the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, Minister Kurum noted: “Alongside all these, global drought, water stress, and extreme weather events are intensifying. The negative impacts of the climate crisis are triggering political, economic, and cultural transformations. Against this challenging backdrop, Türkiye displays constructive diplomacy and maintains a solution-oriented stance to ensure peace. If humanity is to reach a sustainable future, there is only a single way. And it is through a world order where all countries have equal rights. As President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan underlined, this is a shift toward a mindset that leaves no one behind and builds a fairer world.”
“Global Cost of Drought Exceeds $300 Billion”
Minister Kurum emphasized that the climate crisis is not merely an environmental issue but a critical matter for the future of humanity. Highlighting that the global cost of drought exceeds $300 billion annually, he noted that half of the world's population experiences water scarcity for at least one month of the year. He warned that electricity demand is projected to see a 40% to 50% increase by 2035. Regarding the financial gap, Kurum indicated that while the annual global climate finance need is between $7.5 trillion and $9 trillion, current financing has only reached approximately $1.9 trillion.
“We Will Place Finance and Technology Transfer at the Very Heart of COP31”
Emphasizing that the world must act before the climate crisis reaches an irreversible tipping point, Minister Kurum outlined Türkiye’s strategic vision for COP31:
“We do not view COP31 merely as a platform for voicing new commitments. Instead, we regard it as a global turning point. We are approaching this process with profound experience and a crystal-clear vision. With our constructive role in regional crises, our leadership in humanitarian issues, and our solution-oriented diplomacy, Türkiye is active both at the negotiating table and on the ground. Let’s be frank. The world now expects and asserts: 'Speak less, produce more results.'
We must meet this expectation of our peoples. We must restore trust in the multilateral system. We must foster genuine cooperation between developed and developing nations.
We must enable the balanced advancement of adaptation policies. As the COP31 Presidency, we will work toward concrete steps in this regard, placing topics such as finance, technology transfer, and capacity building at the very heart of COP31. Without finance, there is no transformation; without technology, there is no acceleration; and without capacity, there is no sustainability.”
“We Will Curb Emissions And Fortify The Circular Economy”
Emphasizing that the COP31 agenda will be defined by concrete, measurable progress, Minister Kurum outlined the following strategic pillars:
We will curb emissions through advanced waste management and fortify the circular economy. The Zero Waste Movement—launched under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan and now a global environmental milestone—will serve as a blueprint we intend to share with the world. We will champion initiatives for the 730 million people currently lacking access to clean energy. We will steer the industrial sector toward full alignment with Net Zero targets. We will strengthen adaptation policies in water, agriculture, and food security while taking decisive action to protect biodiversity and expand carbon sinks. We will place young people at the forefront of the fight against climate change. “I must emphasize one point,” the Minister noted. “While a commitment is a statement of intent, implementation is the proof of trust. The COP31 Presidency is willing and determined to build this trust. Türkiye is committed to anchoring this process in tangible outcomes.”
Drafting the Antalya Declaration
Regarding the roadmap for the summit, Minister Kurum provided an update on the ongoing preparations:
“Work is underway on the Antalya Declaration, a high-level document addressing climate action at the leadership level. We intend to finalize it at COP31 by incorporating the views of participating nations. By holding the Leaders' Summit on November 11-12, we are demonstrating a high level of resolve to carry COP31 into the future. We have also opened the Action Agenda for consultation; after receiving feedback by mid-April, we will complete this work in May. Following an event in June, we will make the Action Agenda operational.
Our beautiful city of Antalya, a global tourism favorite, is ready to host tens of thousands of climate volunteers.”
“We Are Moving Forward for All Children of the World”
Closing his address, Minister Kurum issued a global call for solidarity and a return to fundamental values:
“This is more than a policy shift; it is a call to return to our core values. As humanity, we must reconnect with our inherent responsibility toward the planet. We must unite our hearts and hands against a crisis that has become a shared existential threat. Let us not forget, not even for a second, that we are facing a defining choice: Either we return to our roots and treat nature as a sacred trust, or we perish alongside the environment we have depleted. We either remain spectators to the current trajectory or take collective action to change it. As the COP31 Presidency, our choice is clear: With your support, we are moving forward for all of humanity—and for all children of the world. Under our leadership, we will restore trust, cooperation, and brotherhood to global climate diplomacy. I invite you all to be part of this collective will and contribute to a legacy of results.”
UN Special Adviser Hart:
“Türkiye Has Been Demonstrating Extraordinary Leadership”
During the session, Selwin Hart, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action, commended Türkiye’s roadmap. “Türkiye has been demonstrating extraordinary leadership. Their commitment to tackling the global climate crisis is remarkable. Their collaboration and synergy with Australia are commendable, as is their seamless engagement with previous COP Presidencies,” Hart noted. Representatives from various nations, led by Brazil and France, expressed their support and thanked the Turkish delegation for a process that remains strictly on schedule.