09.11.2026 09:21
The UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), which Türkiye will host for the first time, starts today in Antalya. At the 12-day summit, with the participation of 196 countries and the European Union, leaders from 102 countries and more than 300 ministers will be hosted. A Leaders' Summit will be held on November 11-12 under the hosting of President Erdoğan. At the organization to be held in an area of approximately 1.1 million square meters, the climate crisis, clean energy, zero waste, and sustainable development will be addressed.
COP31, one of the most important international gatherings that will determine the future of global climate policies, is starting in Antalya. As preparations are completed for the conference, which Türkiye is hosting for the first time, heads of state, ministers, representatives of international organizations and experts from all over the world are gathering in Antalya. At the conference to be held under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, countries' climate change combat targets and efforts to implement these targets will be discussed.
ERDOĞAN WILL HOST WORLD LEADERS ON NOVEMBER 11-12
One of the most important events of the conference, the Leaders' Summit, will be held on November 11-12 under the hosting of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. At the organization, to which leaders from 102 countries and more than 300 ministers have so far reported participation, Türkiye's COP31 Presidency will be carried out by Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum.
Important organizations such as the United Nations, the European Commission, the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the International Energy Agency will also attend the summit at a high level. Within the scope of the conference, approval has been given for 160 pavilions and 90 delegation offices.
TÜRKİYE'S GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE CONCRETE RESULTS
Türkiye aims to turn COP31 from merely a meeting where climate targets are discussed into an organization where decisions taken are transformed into implementation. In this direction, with the "Implementation COP" approach adopted, the aim is to establish dialogue between countries, assume shared responsibilities and transform climate commitments into concrete projects.
The COP31 Action Agenda announced by Minister Murat Kurum has 10 priority areas. Zero Waste, clean energy transition, food security, climate-resilient cities, green industrialization, youth and education, oceans and seas, and resilient health systems are among these headings.
A HUGE 1.1 MILLION SQUARE METER AREA HAS BEEN PREPARED IN ANTALYA
For COP31, a total event area of 1 million 100 thousand square meters has been created in Antalya. Of this, 527 thousand square meters were planned as the Blue Zone and 582 thousand square meters as the Green Zone.
The Blue Zone, under United Nations management, will be the center where heads of state, ministers and official delegations conduct climate negotiations. Approximately 100 thousand visitors are expected to come to this zone.
In the Green Zone, where the private sector, academics, non-governmental organizations and young people will meet, climate-friendly technologies, environmental projects and sustainable living practices will be introduced. Throughout the conference, approximately 1.5 million people are expected to visit the Green Zone.
ZERO WASTE MUSEUM AND SPECIAL EVENTS FOR CHILDREN
One of the remarkable projects of the conference will be the Zero Waste Museum. Designed by the Zero Waste Foundation in a 10 thousand square meter area in the Blue Zone, the museum will welcome visitors with its five-leaf architecture.
At the Zero Waste Application and Workshop Center to be established in the Green Zone, children and young people will be taught in a hands-on way about reducing, separating, reusing and recycling waste. The villages of Solak, Demirciler and Ormana in Antalya will also be introduced to participants with their Zero Waste Village practices. On Children's Island, there will be environmental-themed mobile vehicles of the Turkish Red Crescent and TÜÇA, while AFAD will establish a Children's Activity Village.
THE CLIMATE STRUGGLE WILL BE TOLD THROUGH ART
Within the scope of COP31, attention will also be drawn to the fight against climate change through art. With the "COPArt: Still Possible" project, the conference area will be transformed into open and closed exhibition spaces. Through painting exhibitions, panels and open-air art works, it is aimed to raise environmental awareness among visitors and increase participation in climate action.
Throughout the 12-day conference, countries will evaluate joint steps that can be taken to reduce the effects of global warming and create a more sustainable future.