Turkish Environment Minister: Climate policy is a cornerstone for development and protecting humanity's future
Istanbul -- Turkish Minister of Environment, Urban Planning and Climate Change Murat Kurum affirmed on Monday that climate policy represents a comprehensive policy for development, food, energy, and cities, primarily aiming to protect humanity's future. This was stated in his speech
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
Istanbul -- Turkish Minister of Environment, Urban Planning and Climate Change Murat Kurum affirmed on Monday that climate policy represents a comprehensive approach to development, food, energy, and cities, with the primary aim of safeguarding humanity’s future. He made these remarks during his opening address at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, hosted by Turkey for the first time in Antalya province in southern Turkey.
Kurum stated that “the time has come to translate climate decisions and commitments into tangible results,” emphasizing that Turkey’s climate policies are grounded in the fundamental objective of protecting humanity’s future. He added that the decline in water resources in any country does not affect only that nation, but also impacts the economies of other societies, migration patterns, and security.
In this context, he pointed out that the world is undergoing rapid changes and facing multiple challenges amid ongoing wars and geopolitical tensions, the reshaping of trade routes, energy lines, and supply chains, and increasing global temperatures, fragility, and vulnerability to disasters. At the same time, different geographic regions are confronting shared climate challenges.
He noted that the conference aims to build integrated solutions that reinforce one another, amid crises that exacerbate each other, clarifying that differences in conditions, capacities, and priorities among countries do not negate their shared responsibility in addressing climate challenges.
Kurum called for enhanced climate adaptation financing, warning that the lack of such funding at present could worsen future humanitarian crises. He stressed the need to turn words into results, decisions into investments, and knowledge into practical application.
He explained that the approach of Turkey’s COP31 presidency is based on three core principles: dialogue, consensus, and action, aimed at strengthening communication among parties, listening to their perspectives, and expanding spaces for mutual understanding, ultimately translating shared will into concrete steps.
COP31, hosted by Turkey for the first time, is taking place from November 9 to 20, with representatives from governments, the business sector, scientific communities, and civil society organizations participating. (End)
