Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Turkey’s COP31 Agenda Links Climate Action With Development
Turkey will host the COP31 climate summit in Antalya.
President Tayyip Erdogan said countries do not all have the same money or technology to fight climate change.
Because of this, he said it is not fair or realistic to expect every country to move at the same speed.
He argued that climate plans should also support people’s prosperity and development.
Turkey wants COP31 to turn promises into real projects and measurable results.
Its plans include increasing electricity’s share of energy use to 35% by 2035.
The agenda also seeks to reduce projected growth in municipal waste by half.
Australia and Turkey are working together to prepare the summit, which will include the concerns of different regions.
President Tayyip Erdogan said countries cannot be expected to advance climate policies at the same pace.
He linked the differences to unequal access to climate financing and technology.
Turkey’s COP31 agenda aims to turn existing climate commitments into projects and measurable results.
The agenda includes raising electricity’s share of energy consumption to 35% by 2035 and halving projected increases in municipal waste.
Australia will lead formal negotiations, while Turkey will hold the COP31 presidency and manage the action agenda.
- Who
- Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey and Australia.
- What
- Erdogan presented Turkey’s COP31 action agenda and argued that countries cannot make equal climate progress while financing and technology gaps remain.
- When
- Erdogan spoke on Wednesday at a United Nations climate summit; COP31 is scheduled for November 9–20.
- Where
- Erdogan spoke in New York, and COP31 will be held in Antalya, in southern Turkey.
- Why
- Turkey wants climate commitments to become practical projects while connecting climate goals with development and prosperity.
Country-Specific Climate Progress
Uniform Climate Progress
Pace of climate action
Country-Specific Climate Progress
Erdogan said countries should shape climate steps around their own conditions, resources and development priorities because financing and technology access are unequal.
Uniform Climate Progress
A uniform pace would expect all countries to advance climate policy at the same rate, an approach Erdogan described as unrealistic under current inequalities.
Climate goals and development
Country-Specific Climate Progress
Turkey argues that climate targets must be linked to prosperity and societal and economic realities to create a lasting just transition.
Uniform Climate Progress
Climate proposals that do not prioritize shared targets equally could be viewed as insufficiently ambitious, though no opposing government position was quoted in the article.
- COP31 location
- Antalya, southern Turkey
- COP31 dates
- November 9–20
- Negotiation leadership
- Australia will lead formal negotiations
- Presidency and action agenda
- Turkey will hold the presidency and oversee the action agenda
- Electricity target
- Raise electricity’s share of energy consumption to 35% by 2035
- Waste target
- Cut projected increases in municipal waste by half
- Main constraint identified
- Unequal access to climate financing and technology