Murat Kurum Takes Over COP31 Presidency as World Leaders Prepare to Discuss Climate Challenges, Finance and Resilience
By: Fazli Haq
ANTALYA, TÜRKİYE: Türkiye officially inaugurated the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) in Antalya, bringing together international leaders, government representatives, climate experts, diplomats, environmental organisations and civil society members for one of the world’s most important global gatherings on climate change.
The opening ceremony, held on November 9 at the Antalya COP31 conference venue, marked a significant milestone for Türkiye as it hosted the United Nations climate conference for the first time. The event brought renewed international attention to the urgent need for stronger climate action, international cooperation and practical solutions to address the growing challenges of global warming.
A major highlight of the inauguration was the formal transfer of the COP presidency from Brazil’s outgoing COP30 President André Aranha Corrêa do Lago to Türkiye’s COP31 President Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. The handover officially marked the beginning of Türkiye’s leadership of the international climate negotiations.
Following the transfer, Murat Kurum assumed the COP31 presidency, while Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, joined the presidency team as President of Negotiations under the Türkiye-Australia partnership.
The opening programme also featured addresses by senior international representatives, including UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, alongside representatives of the outgoing Brazilian presidency and the Australian government.
Addressing the opening ceremony, COP31 President Murat Kurum said the world was confronting multiple interconnected challenges, including armed conflicts, geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, rising living costs and the increasingly severe consequences of climate change.
He warned that climate-related disasters were no longer isolated incidents affecting individual countries but had become interconnected global challenges with serious consequences for food security, economic stability, migration, public health and international security.
Highlighting the growing impact of droughts, floods and extreme temperatures, Kurum emphasised that declining water resources in one country could affect the economies, migration patterns and security of other societies. Similarly, extreme heat was placing increasing pressure on cities, agriculture and human health.
He stressed that the international community could no longer rely on declarations and commitments alone, calling for practical implementation of climate policies and stronger cooperation among governments, international institutions and the private sector.
Kurum said Türkiye wanted COP31 to become an “Implementation COP”, focusing on translating international commitments into concrete results, investments and improvements in people’s daily lives.
He identified dialogue, consensus and action as the three central principles of Türkiye’s COP31 presidency, emphasising the importance of bringing countries together despite their different economic circumstances, resources and national priorities.
The Turkish presidency also underlined the importance of the 1.5-degree Celsius temperature goal, climate adaptation, financial support for vulnerable countries, renewable energy, energy efficiency and resilient infrastructure.
Kurum called for greater international cooperation to ensure that climate finance, modern technology and technical expertise reach countries and communities most exposed to climate-related risks. He also highlighted the need to accelerate investment in renewable energy, electricity networks, energy storage, clean transportation and green industrial development.
The COP31 presidency further emphasised Türkiye’s commitment to the Zero Waste approach, highlighting resource conservation, reducing waste and promoting sustainable consumption. The initiative, associated with Emine Erdoğan, was presented as an important contribution to building environmentally responsible societies.
The conference is being held from November 9 to 20, 2026, at the ANFAŞ Antalya Expo Center, with Türkiye hosting the event and Australia serving as its partner in the negotiations process.
The international gathering is expected to bring together representatives of 197 parties and approximately 100,000 participants, including policymakers, scientists, business leaders, environmental campaigners and representatives of international organisations.
An important part of the programme will be the Antalya Leaders’ Summit on November 11 and 12, hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The summit is expected to bring together heads of state and government to discuss international climate priorities, sustainable development, resilience and the implementation of global climate commitments.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is also scheduled to address the leaders’ summit, alongside President Erdoğan.
The summit will provide an opportunity for world leaders to discuss the implementation of the Paris Agreement, climate financing, support for developing countries and strategies to strengthen international cooperation in tackling environmental challenges.
Türkiye’s hosting of COP31 also represents an important opportunity to highlight the country’s environmental policies, renewable energy ambitions and geographical position as a bridge between Europe, Asia and other regions.
With climate change increasingly affecting vulnerable communities, agricultural production, water resources and economic development, the Antalya conference is expected to play an important role in shaping the next phase of international climate cooperation.
As the proceedings continue, the central challenge for participating countries will be to transform political commitments into measurable action, ensuring that decisions taken at COP31 deliver practical benefits for communities and future generations.
The Antalya conference is therefore being viewed as an important opportunity for the international community to strengthen trust, mobilise financial resources and accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable, resilient and climate-secure future.
