Turkey becomes the president and host of COP31

The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has concluded in the Brazilian city of Belém. Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum represented Turkey at the conference.

The diplomatic traffic, which began with Turkey announcing its presidency candidacy in 2022, resulted in a diplomatic success for Turkey this week following 5 days of negotiations in Belém. A consensus was reached among all parties for the COP31 Conference of the Parties to be held in Turkey next year, for Turkey to assume the COP31 Presidency, and for Australia to conduct the negotiation presidency. A decision was also made for the Pre-COP to be held in one of the Pacific countries. The consensus text was accepted by the "Western European and Others Group" (WEOG) under the United Nations, which includes Turkey.

MINISTER KURUM THANKED MEMBER COUNTRIES

Speaking at the COP30 General Assembly, where the decision for Turkey's COP31 presidency and hosting was announced, Minister Kurum thanked the member countries for their support. Minister Kurum stated, "In all the steps we take for our common home, the world, and in all the work we do to resolve climate change and environmental problems, we act with the awareness that there is a covenant of mercy between mankind and nature, as required by our faith."

Expressing that Turkey will demonstrate the successful diplomacy it has shown for world peace this time in the fight against climate change, Minister Kurum continued: Turkey has, to date, assumed an important role in international diplomacy by bringing together opposing views and different parties under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. It has contributed to world peace and the solution of many global problems we face. We will continue these contributions we make for the future of humanity with determination during our COP31 Presidency. In this context, we are assuming the presidency and hosting of the Conference of the Parties, which is the highest decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

"WE HAVE TAKEN AN INNOVATIVE STEP"

Minister Kurum stated that they will continue the momentum gained in previous COPs in a transparent and inclusive manner for all parties during the presidency period: Today, we have taken an innovative step that we believe will carry our historical ties and friendship with Australia forward and make significant contributions to climate action. I believe that from now on, we will carry out the COP31 process together with Australia with a fair, inclusive, participatory, and transparent approach that leaves no one behind. Of course, I would like to state this: Turkey demonstrates its determination, leadership, and sincere approach to international cooperation in the fight against climate change on every platform.

We are taking permanent and concrete steps on the path to the 2053 Net Zero Emission Target announced by our President. With the Zero Waste movement, which has turned into a global environmental movement today, we are making extremely important contributions to the future of our common home, the world, under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan. During the COP31 process, we will implement the most effective solutions regarding the expectations and urgent needs of humanity and our world in cooperation with Turkey and Australia.

"I WISH THE DECISION WE HAVE TAKEN TO BE BENEFICIAL"

Minister Kurum emphasized that Turkey will pursue sustainable and inclusive policies regarding the climate crisis by focusing on fragile geographies such as Africa and the Pacific: From today on, we are starting our most meaningful marathon for our future. We are already looking forward with great excitement and impatience to hosting you all at COP31 in Turkey, the heart of the world and a bridge between continents and civilizations. As Turkey, we are committed to organizing a fair and balanced conference of the parties that focuses not only on its own region but especially on fragile regions such as the Pacific and Africa, and connects the north with the south; I wish this decision we have taken to be beneficial to all parties, our region, and our fight against the global climate crisis.

Turkey announced both its current Nationally Determined Contribution and its COP31 candidacy at COP27 held in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022. Australia, which is in the "Western European and Others Group" (WEOG) under the United Nations along with Turkey, also became a candidate. A negotiation process was carried out through friendly talks between the two countries for nearly 3 years. Turkey demonstrated that it was ready to host with the diplomatic traffic that continued for 4 days in Belém under the leadership of Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum.

WHAT IS COP?

At the COP meetings held annually with the participation of 197 countries, countries' greenhouse gas reduction targets, adaptation policies, climate finance, loss and damage mechanisms, and carbon market rules are determined. In the "Conference of the Parties" (COP) held under the United Nations, the definition of "Parties" refers to the countries that signed the first UN Climate Agreement in 1992. As the highest decision-making body of the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), COP plays an important role in determining the mechanisms for combating the global climate crisis. The first of these summits, which brings together the countries that are parties to the convention, was held in Berlin, Germany, in 1995.

A consensus must be reached among candidate countries to determine the hosts at COP. For this, it is expected that the candidate countries reach an agreement among themselves. If no official objection is made by any party country, it is considered that a consensus has been reached. Otherwise, the summit is held in Bonn, Germany, the center of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The hosting of the annual COP summit is divided into 5 regions at the UN. Azerbaijan from the Eastern European group hosted the summit last year. The host of this year's summit was Brazil from the Latin America and Caribbean Group. In 2026, it was the turn of the "Western European and Others Group" (WEOG), which includes Turkey, to host.

News Source: 12punto