A comprehensive climate-focused media programme was organised by the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye in Istanbul and Kocaeli between 27 and 29 March 2026.
Ahead of the COP31 Summit, which Türkiye will host in November, the “Road to COP31: Sustainable Future International Media Program” was held to raise awareness across the international media landscape. The programme brought together 17 international journalists invited from eight different countries.
Within the scope of the programme, Türkiye’s environmental and climate policies, its vision for sustainable development, and domestically developed technologies in this field were presented to members of the international press. Participants were also provided with comprehensive briefings on Türkiye’s efforts to combat climate change, its innovative environmental management practices, and its scientific research infrastructure.
As part of the programme, participants visited the TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Centre, where they examined wastewater monitoring systems, air-quality measurement technologies, and environmentally friendly production processes on-site. In addition, participants attended a panel on environment and climate held within the framework of the STRATCOM Summit, organised by the Directorate of Communications.
During the programme's Kocaeli stop, participants observed on-site the seabed sludge-removal operations in the İzmit Gulf and marine litter collection activities. These visits provided firsthand insight into Türkiye’s projects to protect marine ecosystems.
The media tours, which will continue until November, will comprise five separate programmes.
The programme was also attended by the Mayor of Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, Assoc. Prof. Tahir Büyükakın; Dr Kağan Özdemir, Team Leader of the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Seabed Sludge Cleaning Project; Assoc. Prof. Abit Balın, Director of Strategy and Business Development at TÜBİTAK MAM; and Mehmet Fatih Cabıoğlu, Senior Expert Researcher at TÜBİTAK MAM.
