Türkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, today (March 12) set out the priorities for COP31, offering the clearest signal yet of how Türkiye intends to shape the global climate agenda when it hosts the thirty-first Conference of the Parties in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026.
Speaking as both Minister and incoming COP31 President, Kurum outlined five thematic priorities that will define Türkiye’s presidency:
- Green and clean energy transformation
- Zero waste and methane reduction
- Climate-resilient cities
- A strengthened climate action implementation mechanism
- Green industrialisation in the energy sector.
The priorities reflect a blend of domestic policy objectives and broader multilateral ambitions, positioning Türkiye simultaneously as a country managing its own energy transition and as a host seeking to build consensus across the international community.
The announcement marks a significant step in the formal build-up to COP31, giving governments, businesses and civil society their first concrete steer on where the Turkish presidency intends to focus negotiating energy and political capital.
The Countdown to COP31: From Belém to Antalya
The road to Antalya was not straightforward. Türkiye’s bid to host the conference came after prolonged negotiations with Australia, which had campaigned vigorously to host COP31 in Adelaide, proposing a co-hosting arrangement with Pacific island nations. The compromise that emerged is an unusual one: Türkiye will host the conference in Antalya, while Australia’s Climate Minister, Chris Bowen, will serve as COP President of Negotiations – a split not seen in COP governance.
For Türkiye, securing the hosting role offers a significant opportunity to engage more prominently in global climate governance and to shape, at least in part, how that process evolves.
In the lead up to November’s event, the outgoing COP30 Presidency (Brazil) and the incoming COP31 Presidency are collaborating to maintain an open, transparent and inclusive process through regular engagement with Parties and observers throughout the year.
These engagements are designed to bring together Ministers, Heads of Delegation, negotiators, observers and relevant stakeholders under a shared understanding of what COP31 needs to deliver. The aim is to ensure that Antalya opens not to a blank slate, but to a process already primed for substantive progress. The Presidencies are also maintaining close coordination with the Chairs of the UNFCCC subsidiary bodies to ensure coherence across the broader negotiating process.
For the Turkish government, hosting COP31 also serves a number of overlapping strategic interests — diplomatic, economic and reputational. The summit in Antalya will draw intensive international media attention, stimulate the local economy and offer Türkiye a platform to promote itself as a destination for green investment and a constructive voice in multilateral diplomacy. Whether the conference delivers meaningful outcomes will determine how much of that goodwill translates into lasting influence.
What to Watch
With Kurum’s priorities now on the table, attention will turn to how they are received – and how they interact with the broader multilateral agenda that Parties bring to Antalya. Several questions are worth tracking in the months ahead:
- Climate finance remains one of the most contested areas in international climate negotiations, particularly the flow of resources from developed to developing nations. Türkiye’s stated priority of a stronger implementation mechanism will need to grapple with this directly.
- Carbon markets, following years of difficult negotiations, are still in the early stages of operationalisation. Progress here will be a key test of the presidency’s technical credibility.
- Green industrialisation and energy transition as Presidential priorities raise questions about how Türkiye – which is still expanding its domestic fossil fuel capacity – will navigate tension between its national energy policy and the expectations of a COP host.
- The Türkiye-Australia co-Presidency dynamic will be closely watched. It is an untested model and how the two governments manage their respective roles – in public and behind closed doors – could prove as consequential as the formal agenda itself.
Aretera at COP31
Aretera has extensive experience supporting international clients at COP. Our team has provided strategic support and execution of public affairs and communications campaigns at COP26 in Glasgow, COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, COP28 in Dubai, and COP29 in Baku.
With a dedicated presence in Türkiye and deep expertise across the region, we are well placed to support clients looking to engage meaningfully at COP31 – whether through pre-event intelligence and issues assessment, media strategy, stakeholder engagement or on-the-ground support in Antalya.
If you would like to learn more about COP31 and how to position your company at this year’s event, please contact Philip Merrell, Aretera’s COP Lead and Head of Emerging Markets: P.Merrell@AreteraPA.com