COP31 President and Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum delivered a speech at the opening of the panel titled “From Zero Waste to COP31: Türkiye’s Climate Diplomacy”, held at the Conference Hall of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications.
Speaking at the opening of the panel, Minister Kurum stated that the Zero Waste Movement, launched under the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan issued a new call to all humanity from the very point of origin of human civilisation.
Minister Kurum emphasised that this call conveyed the message that humanity and nature were not rivals but companions on a shared journey. He went on to say, “The people of Anatolia who have issued this call come from a culture in which bread that falls to the ground is picked up, kissed and touched to the forehead as a sign of respect, not even a drop of water is wasted, and the culture of limitless consumption is rejected. This is precisely why Zero Waste has grown into a nationwide mobilisation in our country, spreading in waves from individuals to every segment of society. Our children brought what they had learnt home, and our families changed their habits.”
Recalling that, as public authorities, they had established a broad framework for implementation encompassing institutions, schools, municipalities and businesses, Minister Kurum said that the Zero Waste Movement had enabled them to conserve resources, save energy and water, and prevent greenhouse gas emissions.
Minister Kurum reported that they had increased the waste recovery rate from 13% in 2017 to 37% in 2025, recovering 90 million tonnes of waste during this period and contributing approximately TRY 365 billion to the economy.
Stating that they had now entered a new phase with DOA, collecting and recycling waste, Minister Kurum said: “To date, we have returned 520 million packaging items to the economy through the Deposit Return System. In this respect, the Zero Waste Movement is not merely the name of a local experience and a global success story; it is also the common language of cooperation in our climate diplomacy at the global level. On this occasion, I would once again like to express my gratitude to First Lady Emine Erdoğan for her tremendous efforts to promote the Zero Waste Movement worldwide.”
“The real danger is that the climate crisis will turn this planet into a place where we can neither breathe nor live.”
Minister Kurum pointed out that preparations for COP31 were taking place at a time of deepening political instability, escalating conflicts and fundamental humanitarian challenges affecting every region of the world.
Noting that the world was undergoing profound upheaval, Minister Kurum said that wars had displaced millions of people, while economic crises and uncertainties arising from conflicts were shifting global balances.
Stating that humanity had become trapped within an increasingly narrow circle of uncertainty, Minister Kurum continued:
“But let us be clear: the political and economic storms dominating today’s headlines will eventually pass. Yet there is something else that will not pass, something we will never be able to recover once it is lost. Humanity and nature are rapidly approaching the edge of a precipice. The real danger is that the climate crisis will turn this planet into a place where we can neither breathe nor live. Only last night, as you may have seen, a violent tornado swept through Antalya, leaving a trail of devastation across several districts. Sadly, we lost four of our citizens. I pray for Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives, and for patience and strength to their families and to all the people of Antalya. Owing to our location in the Mediterranean basin, we are among the countries most exposed to the devastating impacts of the climate crisis. We must learn to live with this awareness and take the necessary precautions.”
Minister Kurum stressed that this was why they regarded urban transformation as a matter of national security, adding that they would share with the entire world in Antalya the lessons they had learnt from their experiences, the expertise they had gained on the ground and the solutions they had developed.
“Now is the time for implementation”
COP31 President Kurum emphasised that tackling climate change required robust diplomacy.
Recalling President Erdoğan’s words, “The shortest path to peace is through constructive dialogue and diplomacy,” Minister Kurum stated that their approach was grounded in the recognition that countries have different capacities, needs and levels of responsibility for the climate crisis.
Minister Kurum emphasised that they wanted to ensure that the voices of both countries grappling with drought and island states concerned about their future in the face of rising sea levels would be heard in Antalya. “It is precisely with this understanding that we have prepared for COP31 and defined our roadmap around dialogue, consensus and action. Through dialogue, we will identify countries’ needs, chart our course in line with the objectives we have set, strengthen our collective resolve and translate that resolve into tangible results through action. We expect every table we convene in Antalya to correspond to a need being addressed somewhere in the world,” he said.
Minister Kurum stated that they had undertaken intensive preparations for COP31 throughout the year, both at home and abroad, conducting 51 visits and participating in 16 international summits.
Minister Kurum explained that, during each of these engagements, they had discussed what countries needed and what could be done together, adding that they would arrive in Antalya with the outcomes of all these meetings, their year-long efforts to listen to countries’ needs and the climate diplomacy they had conducted.
Stating that Türkiye would deliver the message “Now is the time for implementation” to the world at COP31, Minister Kurum continued:
“We will say: Let us never allow the noise of day-to-day crises to drown out the voice of the greater truth. Let us not consign our planet’s future to darkness. We will say that if the devastating consequences of the climate crisis are being felt in our daily lives, then the results of our climate commitments must also be visible. And, of course, as the COP31 Presidency, we will make it clear that we will follow through on every call we make. As Türkiye, we have set our targets and made our commitments. Now is the time to accelerate the investments needed to achieve these targets and expand our partnerships. We will discuss our ten priorities, in keeping with our pledge that COP31 will be a COP of implementation.”
“Food security is achieved by protecting water and soil”
Providing details of the ten priorities, Minister Kurum stated that the first was zero waste, which participants would experience throughout the COP venue and which would also be one of the main topics of the negotiations.
Minister Kurum explained that they had set a target of reducing the projected increase in global municipal waste generation by at least half by 2035 and would encourage partnerships to ensure that the circular material use rate reached at least 15% by 2035.
Stating that they had made preparations to protect seas and oceans by preventing pollution at source and strengthening coastal resilience, Minister Kurum said: “We have emphasised that food security can only be achieved by protecting water and soil. We have adopted an approach centred on supporting producers and promoting climate-resilient agriculture.”
Minister Kurum stated that Türkiye had set a target of reducing energy use intensity in buildings by at least 25% by 2035, adding that the SURFF Project, developed by İLBANK, aimed to turn cities’ infrastructure needs into investment projects ready for financing.
Emphasising that they would also bring countries’ climate targets together with implementable projects through the Climate Implementation Bridge (BRIDGE) to strengthen financing and institutional capacity, Minister Kurum said: “We will strengthen the connections needed at every stage, from project preparation and technical assistance to access to finance. We will accelerate the clean energy transition. We will develop partnerships to increase the share of electrification in global final energy consumption to 35% by 2035. We will promote more efficient production using fewer resources as part of the transition towards green industrialisation.”
“We will demonstrate Türkiye’s strength”
Minister Kurum stated that, throughout Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency, they would embrace President Erdoğan’s approach of never abandoning dialogue, even in the most challenging crises, and assuming responsibility for achieving consensus.
Noting that Türkiye would once again build bridges between continents and host 85 leaders and approximately 1.5 million guests, Minister Kurum continued:
“We will offer our guests from all corners of the world an unforgettable experience through works by distinguished national and international artists, exhibitions, concerts, panels and other events. Across the entire 1.1 million square metres of the venue, from the Blue Zone to the Green Zone, we will showcase Antalya’s hospitality and Türkiye’s strength. Most importantly, I firmly believe that our country’s diplomacy for peace will serve as an inspiration for COP31. Every discussion table established through dialogue will lead to consensus and action. Every step we take together will become the greatest legacy we leave to our children.”
