In the lead-up to the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), to be held in Türkiye in November 2026, Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum has maintained an active international engagement programme, participating in 36 international meetings to date. In the context of COP31, Türkiye is calling on other countries to support an “Implementation COP” that goes beyond discussions at international meetings and focuses on implementation and delivering tangible results on the ground.
Türkiye has presented a 10-point Action Agenda for COP31, with "Zero Waste" as its top priority. This agenda includes the following objectives:
- Increasing the share of electricity in global energy consumption (the electrification rate) to 35 percent by 2035
- Reducing the increase in waste by half
- Reducing energy consumption in the construction sector by at least 25 percent
- Increasing the rate of circular resource use in the manufacturing and production sector to at least 15 percent
- Promoting climate-resilient agriculture
- Ensuring that climate change education reaches all segments of society
- Expanding the “Climate Implementation Bridge Mechanism”, which supports the implementation of countries’ nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and provides support for pipelines of investment-ready projects
In light of these developments, concrete initiatives are underway as part of the "Zero Waste" movement to encourage waste sorting in shopping malls and supermarkets in major cities, particularly in İstanbul.
In Türkiye, where waste sorting has not yet become widespread, waste bins sorted by material type and intended use, as well as recycling machines that collect empty packaging and provide users with refunds through a dedicated application, have begun to gain traction nationwide. Awareness-raising initiatives for children are also ongoing; the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) and musicals aimed at general audiences also address the topic of zero waste.
In addition to these developments, the Presidency of Türkiye announced on August 13 that it had begun accepting accreditation applications from members of the press for COP31. Registrations must be completed through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) online registration system by October 16. In addition, at a briefing organised by Turkish government officials for UNFCCC officials in June, the planned layout of the COP venue was also unveiled.