Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz delivered an address at the COP30 Leaders’ Summit, held in Belém, Brazil, as part of the 30th Conference of the Parties.
07 November 2025
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz delivered an address at the COP30 Leaders’ Summit, held in Belém, Brazil, as part of the 30th Conference of the Parties.
Speaking at the Leaders’ Summit convened ahead of COP30, which will commence on November 10 and run for two weeks, Vice President Yılmaz highlighted escalating geopolitical tensions, ongoing economic uncertainty, and the widening inequalities driven by climate change.
Emphasizing that Türkiye has adopted a net-zero emissions target for 2053 as part of its transition to a low-carbon future, Yılmaz outlined the legal and technical work currently underway to support this goal. Key points from his speech included the following:
“Climate change is no longer simply an environmental issue; it has evolved into an increasingly complex challenge that threatens the progress toward development goals”
“Climate change is no longer simply an environmental issue; it has evolved into an increasingly complex challenge that threatens the progress we have achieved toward sustainable development goals. These interlinked challenges require strong international cooperation. Our presence here is a clear indication of our commitment to multilateralism and to effective international bodies. As we mark the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, it is essential to adopt an inclusive approach while demonstrating the Agreement’s sustainability and effectiveness. A decade ago, we came together around shared hopes and objectives. Today, we are here to reaffirm our determination to translate those hopes into tangible outcomes and forward-looking policies.”
“We believe that concrete steps in adaptation and just transition must be prioritized.”
“Within the framework of COP30, we believe that concrete steps in the fields of adaptation and just transition must be prioritized in order to address the socio-economic challenges triggered by climate change. 'The COP29 Finance Agreement,’ identified under the ‘Baku to Belém Roadmap,’ must also be implemented in full and on time, as this is of critical importance for aligning national energy and development strategies with climate objectives.”
“Türkiye is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries.”
“Türkiye is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries. We have been experiencing a clear warming trend, shifting precipitation patterns, and an increase in both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Türkiye’s historical responsibility for climate change is only limited. Nevertheless, we remain firmly committed to moving from targets to action in pursuit of the Paris Agreement and its shared objectives. In line with our transition to a low-carbon future, Türkiye has adopted an ambitious roadmap by setting a net-zero emissions target for 2053. As announced by our distinguished President at the Climate Summit held in New York, Türkiye aims to reduce its projected 2030 emissions from 695 million tons to 643 million tons by 2035. In this context, the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye adopted the country’s first Climate Law in July of this year, providing a strong legal basis for all climate-related efforts.”
“Our Long-Term Climate Strategy as well as our Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy and Action Plans have taken effect.”
“Our efforts to establish an Emissions Trading System, implement the Green Finance Strategy, and develop the National Green Taxonomy are ongoing. We are advancing transformation across our key sectors with utmost determination. While increasing the share of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency, we are also expanding the deployment of low-carbon technologies and circular economy practices in industry. As of this year, renewables account for more than 60 percent of total installed capacity. We are prioritizing rail transport and accelerating the transition to electric vehicles. In addition, we will continue to expand the Zero Waste initiative, which is one of the fastest and most cost-effective tools in the fight against climate change, both nationally and globally. All these efforts will play a critical role in achieving our 2053 net-zero target. Furthermore, increased access to climate finance instruments will further support this transition.”
“I would like to underscore Türkiye’s commitment to sustained cooperation for a prosperous, resilient, and green world for all.”
“I would like to once again underscore Türkiye’s strong commitment to sustained cooperation with all Parties and the global community in pursuit of climate action grounded in fairness, equity, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, with the aim of building a more prosperous, resilient, and green world for all.”
Ahead of the Leaders’ Summit, Vice President Yılmaz also met with high-level representatives from a number of countries. He was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Fatma Varank and Director of Climate Change Prof. Halil Hasar.
Key Agenda Items of COP30
The conference will convene around a core agenda that includes protecting the Amazon and combating deforestation, efforts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 °C, the submission of new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and progress on the climate finance commitments made at COP29.
Other prominent items from the Summit’s agenda include the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, climate change adaptation, climate finance for developing countries, as well, renewable energy and low-carbon technologies.