Turkey to host Climate Conference (COP31) in Antalya with participation of leaders from 95 countries

Istanbul -- Turkey is hosting today, Monday, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 31), whose proceedings will continue until November 20 in the city of Antalya, with the participation of leaders from 95 countries and officials from seven international organizations. The Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change said in a statement that the conference brings together representatives from 196 countries and the European Union, with participation from all six continents. It explained that the leader-level participants include 37 heads of state, 35 heads of government, eight deputy heads of state, seven deputy heads of government, crown princes, an emir, a parliamentary speaker, and four special representatives. The statement noted that the European Commission, the United Nations, the UN General Assembly, the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the International Energy Agency have announced their participation at the leader level. It added that Ankara “does not view hosting the conference as merely a technical task limited to managing the negotiation agenda, but attaches importance to joint efforts aimed at translating decisions and objectives agreed upon in previous conferences into concrete steps on the ground, while seeking to enhance the role of COP 31 as a platform capable of delivering sustainable global outcomes.” This is the first time Turkey is hosting a Conference of the Parties on climate change, under the theme “Implementation Conference,” based on the principles of “dialogue, consensus, and action.” Turkish Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum is presiding over the current session. (End)