Presidents of the UN climate conferences from COP21 to COP30 have issued a joint statement in support of COP31, which is being held in Antalya, Türkiye.
COP31 President Murat Kurum announced the statement at an event titled “Joint Statement by Former COP Presidents,” Operative Information Center-OMM reports.
He welcomed the document prepared by his predecessors, saying: “The real value of our joint decisions is determined by their implementation. That is why we want to turn COP31 into a conference focused on practical action.”
Kurum recalled that the adoption of the Paris Agreement established a common basis for the international fight against climate change, while decisions at the Morocco conference strengthened preparations for its implementation.
According to the COP31 president, the second decade of the Paris Agreement should prioritize accelerating practical work on emissions reductions, adaptation and financing. He noted that the 2025 synthesis report on nationally determined contributions had demonstrated both the progress made and the need to implement commitments more actively.
In this regard, Kurum urged all parties that have yet to submit their national climate commitments for the period through 2035 to do so as soon as possible.
He stressed that Türkiye’s presidency is guided by dialogue, consensus and action. The same approach underpins cooperation with Australia: negotiations and the practical implementation of decisions should complement one another.
COP31’s action agenda includes 10 areas, among them the zero-waste approach, reducing methane emissions, energy security, “green industrialization,” expanding the electrification of transport and other sectors, food security, and issues related to oceans and seas.
Kurum also said the global “35 by 2035” electrification initiative, which aims to raise electricity’s share of global final energy consumption to 35% by 2035, would enable tangible progress in reducing emissions associated with fossil fuels.
Kurum also stressed that implementing these tasks requires financing and urged countries to provide the promised funds to nations in need as soon as possible.
