The Climate Change Conference held in Bonn, Germany, hosted significant contacts and high-level meetings as part of the COP31 preparations. Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 President Murat Kurum publicly announced Türkiye's COP31 presentation on June 9.
The COP of the Future: Dialogue, Consensus, and Action
Minister Kurum noted that as the COP31 Presidency, they are acting with a transparent and fair approach throughout the year, taking action on the three core values of dialogue, consensus, and action during the COP31 process, and building the vision as Türkiye with the "COP of the Future" approach.
“The COP31 Action Agenda aims to strengthen partnerships, develop practical solutions, contribute to implementation, and leave a lasting legacy. In this framework, we have determined 10 priority themes under the COP31 Action Agenda.”
The 10 Priority Areas of the Action Agenda
- Zero Waste and Methane Reduction: The waste issue is the area where the fastest results can be achieved in climate action.
- Clean Energy and Electrification: Providing sustainable and secure energy for all.
- Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture: Building a resilient future for our farmers.
- Green Industrialization: Placing production, trade, and employment at the center of the transformation.
- Oceans and Seas: Protecting coastal ecosystems, which are the center of climate balance and food security.
- Climate-Friendly Resilient Cities: Safe living spaces where the impacts of climate change are most visible.
- Youth Engagement: Placing youth at the center of the Action Agenda as today's solution partners.
- Dynamic and Resilient Health Systems: Health infrastructures that anticipate, adapt to, and rapidly recover from climate-induced shocks.
- Cross-Sectoral Joint Action: Strong synergy between climate change, biodiversity, and land degradation.
- Implementation of NDCs: Additional support systems to translate commitments into concrete outcomes.
The 'Building Campaign of the Century' Approach
Minister Kurum pointed out that Türkiye will conduct the COP31 process with the same perspective as the Building Campaign of the Century implemented after the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes:
“Just as we carried out a multi-layered, fast, and results-oriented study in the post-earthquake construction process, we are acting with the same understanding and determination in the COP31 process.”
The 6 Global Targets of the COP31 Action Agenda
- Electrification: Reaching an electrification rate of 35% by 2035.
- Zero Waste and Methane Reduction: Halving the increase in waste generation by 2035.
- Resilient Cities: Reducing the energy use intensity in the building sector by at least 25% by 2035.
- Green Transformation in Industry: Reaching a circular material use rate of at least 15% in the production and manufacturing sector by 2035.
- Awareness: Integrating climate change topics into education curricula by 2030 and creating strong public awareness by 2035.
- Climate Implementation Bridge: A new mechanism to strengthen the alignment between climate targets and economic policies in developing and least-developed countries, delivering finance to the field quickly and effectively.
A Shared Future with the Call of Rumi and Yunus Emre
Minister Kurum concluded his speech with Rumi's words, “Yesterday has gone with yesterday, my dear; now it is time to say and do new things!” and Yunus Emre's lines, “Come, let us be friends, let us make things easy,” inviting the world to act together in Antalya.
Samed Ağırbaş’s Messages at the Bonn Climate Change Conference
During his intense diplomatic traffic at the conference, Zero Waste Foundation President and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion Samed Ağırbaş explained the global vision of the Zero Waste Movement, which grew under the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan:
“In Bonn, where we arrived for the UN June meetings, we evaluated the road to COP31. We explained Türkiye's vision to the world in meetings led by our Minister and COP31 President, Murat Kurum. We reiterate our President's call for global justice. We are discussing the roadmap of the Zero Waste Movement, which we initiated under the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, with our stakeholders.”
