Turkey Unveils COP31 Climate Action Agenda at UN

Turkey’s COP31 President and Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum has outlined the key priorities for the upcoming United Nations climate summit, with a focus on turning existing climate commitments into measurable projects and results.

Speaking at a UN event in New York, Kurum said COP31 would prioritise implementation, consensus and practical action rather than introducing new climate pledges.

The agenda includes a target to increase electricity’s share of global energy consumption to 35% by 2035 and cut projected growth in municipal waste by half.

Other targets include reducing energy-use intensity in buildings by at least 25% and increasing the global rate of circular material use to at least 15% by 2035. According to Kurum, achieving these targets could potentially reduce global greenhouse-gas emissions by 8.5 to 10 gigatons of CO₂ by 2035.

The summit’s 10 key themes will include clean energy and electrification, zero waste and methane reduction, climate-resilient cities, green industrialisation, youth and education, food security, oceans, health systems, biodiversity and land use, and implementation of national climate plans.

Turkey also plans to launch a Green Industrialisation Facilitation Mechanism for least-developed countries. The initiative is designed to connect development needs and projects with technology, technical expertise and financing.

Kurum said COP31 would also introduce initiatives covering green freight corridors, industrial decarbonisation, artificial intelligence and clean technologies, circular economy measures, energy-efficient buildings, oceans, food security and climate-resilient health systems.

The COP31 climate summit will take place in Antalya, Turkey, from November 9 to 20, 2026. Australia will lead the formal negotiations, while Turkey will hold the COP presidency and oversee the summit’s action agenda.

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