OMM Redaksiyası
Türkiye’s Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum launched the action agenda for the UN Climate Change Conference COP31 in New York on Monday, saying the meeting would focus on converting climate targets into measurable and practical steps.
According to the Anadolu Agency, Kurum presented the agenda during his visit to New York for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. He spoke at a high-level event held at the UN Economic and Social Council Chamber in his capacity as COP31 president.
“We are here today not only to introduce the COP31 Action Agenda, but also to discuss together how we can accelerate the transition from targets to implementation in climate action,” Kurum said.
COP31 agenda focuses on implementation
Kurum said there was broad agreement on the urgency of the climate crisis, as well as shared targets and workable solutions in many parts of the world. The central challenge, he added, was putting those solutions into practice.
He identified access to finance, capacity gaps, and the need to match technology and investment with requirements as key obstacles. These issues will be addressed at COP31, which Türkiye will host in Antalya in November.
“Our approach in this process is based on three fundamental principles: Dialogue. Consensus. Action,” Kurum said. “Through dialogue, we listen to different needs and priorities. Through consensus, we identify areas for joint action. Through action, we want to turn this partnership into concrete results.”
The minister said the process was not intended merely to announce additional commitments, but to deliver measurable results based on existing pledges. The action agenda includes 10 priority themes, six global targets, 11 initiatives and 13 supporting outputs.
Targets set for 2035
The agenda was developed through consultations with countries, international organizations, financial institutions, the private sector and civil society, according to Kurum.
The 10 priority themes cover areas including energy, industry, cities, food, oceans and health. Global targets have also been set for 2035 in areas such as energy consumption, waste, recycling and carbon dioxide reductions.
“We aim to increase the share of electricity in final energy consumption to 35% by 2035,” Kurum said, adding that the COP31 Global Electrification Initiative would seek to accelerate electrification worldwide.
Other proposed targets include climate-resilient cities, action on oceans and seas, food security, and more dynamic and resilient health systems.
Türkiye seeks closer cooperation with EU
Participants at the event included UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, UN Assistant Secretary-General Selwin Hart, COP30 President Andre Aranha Correa do Lago, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister and COP29 Lead Negotiator Yalcin Rafiyev, Australian Assistant Minister and COP31 Executive Director Kushla Munro, and World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
Ministers and deputy ministers from around 20 countries, along with representatives of international financial institutions, also attended the launch.
COP31 will be held under Türkiye’s presidency from Nov. 9 to 20 at the Expo Center in Antalya.
During his visit to New York, Kurum also met European Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra. They discussed Türkiye-EU climate cooperation and preparations for COP31.
Kurum said Türkiye viewed the conference as an opportunity to advance climate relations with the European Union towards a more strategic and results-oriented framework, and called for the EU to contribute actively to the COP31 initiatives and global implementation goals.
