COP31 host Turkey from civil society

Leadership is not just about hosting

The deadlock between Turkey and Australia for the United Nations Climate Summit (COP31) has been resolved and Turkey has officially become the host. However, the Climate Network, which gathers 15 environmental organizations under its roof, warned the government that the table to be set up in Antalya should not remain just an "organizational success".

The COP31 hosting process, in which Turkey has been engaged in a diplomatic struggle since 2022, was finalized with a "last minute" compromise reached with Australia. The dispute, which had reached a bottleneck in climate diplomacy, was resolved with the decision to hold the summit in Antalya in November 2026. Australia will be part of the process by hosting the critical intergovernmental negotiations before the summit. Immediately after this diplomatic victory, however, the Climate Network, the umbrella organization of the environmental movement in Turkey, issued a critical "roadmap" call to the government.

"Real leadership is not about hosting guests, it is about giving up coal"

Fifteen non-governmental organizations active in the field of environment and climate protection, including TEMA, Greenpeace Turkey, WWF-Turkey and others, emphasized that COP31 could be a historic turning point for Turkey, but there are conditions for this. In a joint statement, it was stated that the hosting of the COP31 while the climate crisis is deepening is welcomed, but it was reminded that the real success lies in "building a carbon-free economy".

In its message to the government, the Climate Network went beyond diplomatic courtesy to make clear demands. In the statement, it was stated that true leadership cannot only be achieved by hosting a major organization; it can only be achieved through strong climate policies, social participation and a decisive stance. The organization argued that when Turkey comes to the table as a host, it should strike an equitable balance between "those who caused the crisis the most" and "those most affected by the crisis".

Civil society's 5-point emergency action plan

The Climate Network has also identified the concrete steps Turkey needs to take to pass the "sincerity test" on the road to 2026. Civil society's primary expectation is to start reducing emissions starting today with an ambitious climate target. However, the most striking demand is centered on energy policy. The organizations want Turkey to immediately end new coal investments and announce a clear "coal exit strategy" based on the principles of fair transition.

In addition, they also demand that renewable energy investments be accelerated in line with nature and social justice, energy efficiency be increased and adaptation policies be strengthened against the devastating effects of climate change. The Climate Network also underlined that all these processes should be carried out with the seriousness of a democratic state of law and on a participatory basis.

Minister Kurum: "We are a leading country, not a follower"

Contrary to civil society's "warning" statements, the government's side is in a "triumphant" mood. Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, stated that 21 years of environmental policies were crowned with this hosting. Claiming that Turkey is no longer a country that follows the world behind in the fight against climate change, Kurum stated that Turkey has become a "leading actor" by taking the steering wheel of the largest global platform that determines environmental policies.