From Zero Waste to COP31: Türkiye’s Climate Diplomacy

The program, held at the Directorate of Communications on October 27, 2026, began with opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Burhanettin Duran, the Presidency’s Head of Communications, and Murat Kurum, COP31 President and Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. The subsequent panel, attended by academics and officials involved in the COP31 process, addressed Türkiye’s role in climate diplomacy. Our University was represented at the event by Lect. Dr. Merve Babal, Lecturer in the Logistics Program at the Vocational School.

In his speech, Prof. Dr. Burhanettin Duran recalled the Paris Agreement and Türkiye’s 2053 net-zero emissions target. He emphasized that March 30 had been declared International Day of Zero Waste, with Türkiye taking the lead and receiving the support of 105 countries. Duran also recalled the renowned political scientist Joseph Dien’s characterization of climate change as a “threat multiplier” rather than merely an ecological crisis. He drew attention to climate-related disinformation and the phenomenon of “green fatigue” in society. Noting that the consequences of the climate crisis were already being experienced, Duran emphasized the need for international policies that strike a balance between countries’ sovereign rights and their global responsibilities.

In his presentation, Murat Kurum, COP31 President and Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, shared the objectives and preparations for the summit to be held in Antalya. Summarizing their approach with the words, “Nature and humanity are not rivals but companions on a shared journey,” Kurum outlined the ten priorities of the COP31 Action Agenda: Zero Waste, Clean Energy Transition, Food Security, Climate Implementation Bridge, Oceans and Seas, Climate-Resilient Cities, Youth and Education, Dynamic and Resilient Health Systems, Rio Synergy, and Green Industrialisation.

Figures highlighting the scale of the summit were also shared. Antalya is expected to host 85 world leaders, 3,000 media representatives, and 1.5 million visitors. Kurum stated that Türkiye would build “a bridge between continents” and help shape the global climate agenda from Antalya.

The summit will be held across an area of 1.1 million square metres, comprising the Blue Zone and the Green Zone. As part of COP Art, exhibitions, concerts, and cultural events are planned to offer participants a comprehensive summit experience.

The panel was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Merve Özdemir, a faculty member at Yozgat Bozok University’s Faculty of Communication. Özdemir opened the panel by emphasizing that we have not inherited the world from our ancestors but have received it in trust to pass on to future generations.

Prof. Dr. Halil Hasar, Director of the Department of Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, emphasized that a covenant of compassion exists between humanity and nature.

Prof. Dr. Abdulmenaf Turan, a faculty member at Ankara University’s Faculty of Applied Sciences, addressed the concept of transformation. He explained that the simultaneous progression of digital and green transformations is referred to as “twin transformation,” while the addition of spatial transformation to this process gives rise to the concept of “triple transformation.” He also discussed the growing prominence of new actors in the green transformation process, including non-governmental organizations, companies, and governments, and highlighted the importance of climate diplomacy in this process.

Mehmet Ali Kahraman, Director of the COP31 Presidency Office, evaluated the Action Agenda and Türkiye’s role in this field. Recounting the processes leading up to Türkiye’s hosting and presidency of COP, Kahraman stated that COP31 would stand out as a “COP of Implementation.” In this context, he also referred to the Climate Implementation Bridge included in the Action Agenda.

Mustafa Erdağı, Director General of the Zero Waste Foundation, discussed the foundation’s contributions to this process. Erdağı stated that they had designated June 1–7 as Climate Week and organized more than 3,000 events in Istanbul alone. He noted that institutions and organizations from the international community had also contacted the foundation this year, emphasizing that this was important in terms of communicating Türkiye’s role more effectively. Erdağı also highlighted the Türkiye Environment and Climate Change Workshops organized on the road to COP31.

The event also featured the presentation of the book Climate Diplomacy.