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19 November 2025

Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Murat Kurum announced Türkiye’s Nationally Determined Contribution during the 30th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is currently being held in Belém, Brazil.

Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Murat Kurum announced Türkiye’s Nationally Determined Contribution during the 30th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is currently being held in Belém, Brazil. “Our Nationally Determined Contribution aims to build a low-carbon, climate-resilient future aligned with innovative policies and reflects an approach that includes all segments of society.” said Minister Kurum. “We do not view this contribution merely as a policy document; we see it as a pledge to humanity, which we implement with maximum effectiveness.” He also highlighted Türkiye’s commitment to hosting COP31: “As Türkiye, we aim to host a fair and equitable Conference of the Parties that leaves no country behind.” On the margins of COP30, Minister Kurum held bilateral meetings with representatives from seven countries in the fields of environment, climate, urbanization, and energy. 

The 30th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is currently being held in Belém, Brazil. Representing Türkiye at the conference, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Kurum presented the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution in yesterday’s session. Emphasizing that the Climate Law represents one of the significant steps in this framework, Minister Kurum said, “Climate change, which is advancing toward an irreversible point, is no longer only an environmental issue. More worryingly, it has reached a scale that threatens all the progress we have made. Although Türkiye has a limited historical responsibility for climate change, we remain steadfast in implementing our Climate Law and maintaining our commitment to achieving our shared targets under the Paris Agreement.”

TÜRKİYE’S 2035 TARGET: REDUCING EMISSIONS TO 643 MILLION TONS

Minister Kurum pointed out that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had announced Türkiye’s 2035 target during the Climate Summit held at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “According to our updated emissions scenarios, we aim to reduce emissions from the 695 million tons projected for 2030 to 643 million tons by 2035. I want to underline that our Nationally Determined Contribution is designed to build a low-carbon, climate-resilient future aligned with innovative policies and reflects an approach that includes all segments of society.” he said. “And we do not view our NDC merely as a policy document; we see it as a pledge to humanity, which we implement with maximum effectiveness.”

“WE WANT TO HOST A FAIR AND EQUITABLE COP31”

Minister Kurum emphasized that Türkiye is advancing steadily toward the 2053 Net-Zero Emissions Target across all sectors, from energy and industry to transportation and waste management. He also outlined Türkiye’s candidacy for the COP31 Presidency, stating: “Türkiye has consistently demonstrated its determination in climate action, its leadership, and its sincerity in cooperation. We continue to address issues not only regionally but with a sense of global responsibility. To make this stance even clearer, we announced our COP31 candidacy in 2022. As Türkiye, we want to host a Conference of the Parties that places special focus on vulnerable regions such as Africa and the Pacific, leaves no country behind, and upholds fairness and equity.”

Minister Kurum concluded his remarks by expressing the hope that international collaboration will help leave a habitable world and strong economies for future generations.

MINISTER KURUM’S CLIMATE DIPLOMACY

In Belém, Minister Kurum engaged in a series of diplomatic meetings on the sidelines of the UN climate process. He met with Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change Marina Silva, Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, Azerbaijan’s Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Change Muhtar Babayev, German Federal Minister for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Carsten Schneider, UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu Hai Yien, and Nepal’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Madan Prasad Pariyar. During these meetings, Minister Kurum outlined Türkiye’s steps in combating climate change and highlighted exemplary projects in the fields of environment and urbanization.

COP31 PRESIDENCY NEGOTIATIONS WITH AUSTRALIA CONTINUE

In his meeting with Australian Minister Bowen, Minister Kurum reiterated Türkiye’s determination to jointly host COP31. Posting about the meeting on social media, he stated: “As part of our COP31 candidacy, which we see as an opportunity to contribute to the global climate agenda, we reviewed the current status of negotiations with Australia. Türkiye approaches this process with goodwill at all times and emphasizes that we are ready to work inclusively, leaving no one behind. As in all other areas, we hope our cooperation in the fields of environment and climate change will continue to grow.”

Minister Kurum was accompanied by Director of Climate Change Prof. Dr. Halil Hasar during his meetings.