COP31 Begins Tomorrow in Antalya: 102 State and Government Leaders to Attend

The 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change begins November 9 in Antalya. Participation by 102 state and government leaders has been confirmed for the summit, where Turkey will serve as host and rotating presidency for the first time, with approximately 300 ministers also expected to attend.

Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum will assume the COP31 Presidency. Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen will lead the formal negotiations. The World Leaders Summit, where state and government heads will convene, will take place November 11-12.

Main agenda items include climate finance, phasing out fossil fuels, clean energy transition, and protecting the 1.5-degree global warming target. The report also noted that the UN projects approximately 2.6 degrees of warming by century's end even with full implementation of current national commitments.

Turkey's action agenda includes targets such as raising the global electrification rate to 35 percent by 2035, cutting waste production in half, and reducing energy intensity in the building sector by at least 25 percent.

Within the scope of COP31, an area of 1.1 million square meters has been prepared in Antalya; plans call for hosting 1.5 to 2 million visitors over the 20-day period. Transportation will use 630 low-emission buses procured from 25 municipalities. For security, 27,957 personnel from police, gendarmerie, and coast guard units have been deployed; these teams will be equipped with 5 aircraft, 7 vessels, 26 armored vehicles, and 12 TOMA water cannons.