02.11.2026 12:34
Antalya is preparing to host 85 heads of state and government and nearly 80,000 participants at COP31, the UN Climate Change Conference, which will begin on November 9. An approximately 111-hectare site has been set up in the EXPO 2016 area for the conference, where more than 1 million visitors are expected. President Erdoğan, who will host the Leaders’ Summit on November 11-12, will address world leaders at the opening.
The world's climate agenda will be discussed in Antalya on November 9-20. The venue prepared for the conference, which will be attended by heads of state and government, ministers, scientists, business world and civil society representatives, has been transformed into a large meeting center ranging from plenary halls to country pavilions, from the media center to science and zero waste areas.
ERDOĞAN WILL ADDRESS WORLD LEADERS
The busiest diplomatic traffic of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will take place at the Leaders' Summit to be held on November 11-12.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who will host the summit, will address world leaders at the opening. Erdoğan is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with guest heads of state and government as part of the summit.
85 LEADERS, 300 MINISTERS, MORE THAN 1 MILLION VISITORS
According to the latest statements by COP31 President and Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, the number of heads of state and government who have notified participation has reached 85. While it is stated that this number may change, around 300 ministers are also expected to come to Antalya. The number of visitors at the site during the conference is projected to exceed 1 million.
2 BILLION DOLLARS OF ACTIVITY FOR ANTALYA
The organization is expected to create approximately 2 billion dollars of direct economic activity in Antalya. With the multiplier effect spreading across different sectors, total added value is projected to reach 3 to 4 billion dollars. The summit, expected to create activity in a wide area ranging from accommodation to transportation and from food and beverage to shopping, is also aimed at contributing to the city's international promotion.
TWO SEPARATE ZONES IN A 111-HECTARE AREA
The COP31 venue consists of the area referred to as the “Blue Zone” and the area referred to as the “Green Zone.” The total size of the 527,414-square-meter Blue Zone and the 582,244-square-meter Green Zone reaches 1,109,658 square meters, that is, approximately 111 hectares.
The Blue Zone, which contains large hall blocks, and the Green Zone, which contains the tower, congress center, amphitheaters and thematic structures, assume different functions within the same venue. While there are transfer points and separate entrances between the two zones, car and bus parking areas are located outside the venue.
DIPLOMATIC TRAFFIC IN THE BLUE ZONE
The Blue Zone, to be managed under UN authority, will be the center of official negotiations and decision-making processes. Heads of state, ministers, national delegations, international organizations and accredited observers will participate in meetings in this area.
In the Blue Zone, 2 plenary halls, 28 meeting rooms and 6 special event areas have been prepared. Applications for 159 pavilions and 90 delegation offices, where countries and organizations will promote their work, have been approved. The UN and COP presidency offices, delegation working areas, meeting rooms and media center have been located close to each other.
CRITICAL MEETINGS IN THE “ANADOLU” AND “AKDENİZ” HALLS
Among the venue's 2 most important halls, the hall where General Assembly 1 will be held has been named “Anadolu.” The second plenary hall, where decisions can be taken and approved at General Assembly 1, will be “Akdeniz.” Anadolu Hall was planned with a capacity of 1,600, and Akdeniz Hall with a capacity of 1,300.
Anadolu, the largest hall, has been equipped with long delegation desks, microphone systems, a large presidential podium and large screens. Wavy patterns reminiscent of soil layers were used on the walls of the hall. At the entrances of the two halls, wood-look surfaces, tulip motifs and bilingual signage are featured.
MEDIA CENTER FOR 4,000 JOURNALISTS
A media center has been established for 4,000 national and international media members expected to follow the summit. More than 300 press conferences are planned to be held at the site, and 40 live broadcast points are planned to be used.
Journalists will be able to access broadcasts of plenary meetings, press conferences and other events from control panels at their desks. Separate working areas and studios have been prepared for television organizations and news agencies. Press conferences by heads of state and high-level participants will be held in the Mevlana Hall.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE IN THE GREEN ZONE
The approximately 582,000-square-meter Green Zone will bring the climate agenda together with society. Climate policies and sustainability work will be promoted at the approximately 2,000-square-meter Türkiye Pavilion. In the entrepreneurship area around the tower, it is aimed to bring together ventures developing climate solutions with investors.
The congress center in the zone has a total capacity of 6,250 people. A large amphitheater for 5,000 people and a small amphitheater for 800 people will be used for outdoor events. The area also includes a science center, thematic event areas, restaurants and a “7 Regions Gastronomy” section.
ZERO WASTE MUSEUM ESTABLISHED
The approach developed under the leadership of Emine Erdoğan, founder of the Zero Waste Movement and Honorary President of the Zero Waste Foundation, is among the important topics of COP31's environmental agenda. The foundation contributes to determining local environmental priorities and solution proposals through the workshops it organized in Antalya before the conference.
At the venue, there are separate sections for the Zero Waste Museum, the Zero Waste Practice and Workshop Center, and the Zero Waste Temporary Storage and Compost Center. Water refill units at the site will allow participants to refill and reuse their bottles and flasks.
EMPHASIS ON CARETTA CARETTA AT THE ANTALYA PAVILION
The work carried out under the leadership of Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin and Antalya Blue Mediterranean Initiative Project Coordinator Ebru Şahin will be introduced to international guests at the Antalya Pavilion. At the pavilion, where attention will be drawn to the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems with the Caretta caretta symbol, the city's geographically indicated products and local flavors will also be offered to visitors.
At the pavilion, the Smoke-Free Beach initiative, which has been expanded in the city within the scope of the Blue Mediterranean Initiative, will also be explained, along with stream barriers and waste traps that prevent waste from reaching the sea, coastal cleanup events, drinking water stations, and deposit return efforts.
FREE TRANSFER BY ELECTRIC BUSES
Participants will be transported free of charge from the open parking lot to the conference area by zero-emission electric buses brought to Antalya from different provinces of Türkiye. Participants coming from the city center and other regions will also be able to use public buses and the tram for free.
WORK WILL PAUSE ON NOVEMBER 15
In the conference calendar, work will pause on Sunday, November 15. Those who want to work in the area that day will need to obtain permission in advance. The COP31 meeting program, which will open on November 9, will continue until November 20, and the closing of the area will be completed on November 21 at 18:00.
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