Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Murat Kurum spoke at the “Climate Diplomacy and Leadership in the New Era Panel” during the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
12 April 2025
Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Murat Kurum spoke at the “Climate Diplomacy and Leadership in the New Era Panel” during the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum. Minister Kurum drew attention to the decisive steps Türkiye has been taking in its fight against climate change, which the country feels acutely due to its location in the Mediterranean Basin.
Noting that Türkiye’s accession to the Paris Climate Agreement was aimed at ensuring that the country would be less affected by climate-related crises in terms of the economy, employment, and growth, Minister Kurum said: “We conducted an extremely intense and hard-fought diplomatic process during this ratification phase. Both within the framework of the United Nations and with our relevant ministers and counterparts, we carried out this diplomatic effort in order to secure our country’s interests, and we achieved concrete gains in the process. We signed the Paris Climate Agreement on the condition that it would not undermine our country’s growth. When signing this agreement, we adopted a strategy that does not hinder but rather supports the progress Türkiye has achieved in industry, energy, and many other sectors. Under the leadership of our President, we are determined to grow our country as it advances toward the Century of Türkiye. Together, we will serve both our children and our shared home, the planet.”
Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Murat Kurum attended the “Climate Diplomacy and Leadership in the New Era Panel” during the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Minister Kurum also addressed the forum with the following remarks: “Ibn Khaldun says, ‘Geography is destiny.’ We are living proof of how accurate this statement is. Taking its geographical vulnerability into account, Türkiye is striving to combat climate change regardless of what other countries are doing or not doing. The first and most essential requirement for this is an unwaveringly determined governance and stance. In this regard, our President has declared this determination to the entire world.”
Held under the theme “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World,” the fourth edition of the forum was attended by Director of Climate Change Prof. Halil Hasar, who accompanied Minister Kurum.
PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT: DESIGNED TO SUPPORT TÜRKİYE’S PROGRESS
Recalling that Türkiye ratified the Paris Climate Agreement on 7 October 2021, Minister Kurum indicated that the objective was to minimize the impact of climate-related crises on the country’s economy, employment, and growth:
“We conducted an extremely intense and hard-fought diplomatic process during this ratification phase. Both within the framework of the United Nations and with our relevant ministers and counterparts, we carried out this diplomatic effort in order to secure our country’s interests, and we achieved concrete gains in the process. We signed the Paris Climate Agreement on the condition that it would not undermine our country’s growth. What does it mean? It means that we signed the agreement to ensure that it would not pose a threat to our economy, employment, production, or future. We must wage this struggle collectively. Ultimately, when signing this agreement, we adopted a strategy that does not hinder but rather supports the progress Türkiye has achieved in industry, energy, and many other sectors. We set out goals to expand the production of new technologies, to strengthen domestic know-how, to create new fields of employment and professions, to increase our trade capacity with Europe, and, most importantly, to expand access to new and more affordable energy sources.”
“WE ARE SEEKING NEW GAINS FOR THE INTERESTS OF OUR YOUTH”
Emphasizing that the Paris Climate Agreement represents a solution-oriented step taken on behalf of Türkiye’s youth and future, Minister Kurum said: “Under the leadership of our President, we are determined to grow our country as it advances toward the Century of Türkiye. Together, we will serve both our children and our shared home, the planet. Türkiye is striving to be a country that does not turn a blind eye to problems but instead focuses directly on solutions, fighting with its own means at both the local and national levels. As with all challenges, we are focused on solutions to the climate crisis as well. We are striving to secure new gains that safeguard and prioritize the interests of our youth and our future. This struggle is, in essence, a struggle for the future of our country.”
“WE WILL ENABLE ACCESS TO GREEN FINANCE BY TURKISH PRODUCTION”
Noting that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Türkiye’s 2053 Net Zero Emissions Target to the world at the United Nations General Assembly under the vision of “A Fairer World Is Possible,” Minister Kurum continued:
“Although Türkiye bears no historical responsibility, we have assumed a historic responsibility on behalf of future generations. Together with all our ministries, we are coordinating this process. Within the next 50 years, the entire world will transition to this economic system - whether it wants to or not. Some countries may currently display different attitudes, but it is evident that we will all face this reality. Therefore, we will treat this as an opportunity, transition to a circular economy, and in doing so enable Turkish companies, Turkish industry, and Turkish production to access green finance. We will ensure the supply of new, innovative, and clean energy. We will expand sustainable and smart transportation across all our cities, and assume a much more active role in climate diplomacy.”
TÜRKİYE’S CLIMATE LAW IS ON THE WAY
Emphasizing that Türkiye is preparing its Climate Law to place the fight against climate change on a firm legal footing, Minister Kurum said: “We prepared our draft in consultation with all relevant ministries and submitted it to our Parliament. We expect it to be enacted by the end of this month. In doing so, we will provide a legal basis and framework for all these efforts.”
“OUR ZERO WASTE TARGET IS A 60 PERCENT RECYCLING RATE”
Recalling the Zero Waste Project launched in 2017 under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, Minister Kurum said: “When you look at the gains achieved by our Zero Waste Project, which has left its mark on seven continents in seven years, our current recycling rate stands at 35 percent. Our target is to reach 60 percent. This is why; we attach great importance to the Deposit Management System. Starting in Sakarya and expanding nationwide this year, this system will become mandatory in 2026. We will transform our waste through this system.”
Minister Kurum added: “We will continue to follow in the footsteps of Aşık Veysel, who expressed the brotherhood of nature and humanity by saying, ‘My faithful beloved is the black earth,’ and we will continue to honor the words of Yunus Emre, who said, ‘We love the created for the sake of the Creator.’”
Minister Kurum also drew attention to the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, stating: “We will not remain silent in the face of the genocide in Gaza. We will continue to extend a hand to all the oppressed around the world. And we will continue to speak out against Israeli brutality in every forum.”
Source: Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change