Türkiye to lead COP31 as climate diplomacy gains momentum
Türkiye will host and chair the 2026 UN climate change conference, COP31, after successful negotiations led by Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum at COP30 in Brazil — a development experts say boosts the country’s international climate diplomacy.
Economist Ayşe Uyduranoğlu from Istanbul Bilgi University told Anadolu that COP30 fell short on one major expectation: securing a clear global commitment to phase out coal. She emphasized that eliminating coal requires a long-term roadmap and binding national timelines.
Despite this gap, she welcomed the stronger focus on a “just transition,” noting that climate policies must consider the diverse needs of different social groups to be effective.
Uyduranoğlu underscored that Türkiye — situated in the Mediterranean Basin, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions — stands to benefit significantly from hosting COP31 both symbolically and strategically. She urged that adaptation policies receive more emphasis next year, given Türkiye’s growing exposure to heatwaves, droughts and severe storms.
She also highlighted Türkiye’s progress in forming an Emissions Trading System (ETS).
“A two-year pilot ETS phase is expected to begin soon before full implementation. It must remain flexible and responsive to constant change,” she said, adding that a carbon tax should also be seriously considered.
Pointing to Sweden as a model example, she stressed that revenues from both ETS and a potential carbon tax must be directed strictly toward adaptation, mitigation and just transition measures.
Diplomatic success and high expectations
International relations expert Suay Nilhan Açıkalın of Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University said COP30 delivered progress on climate finance and adaptation, though negotiations remained cautious where strong political will was required.
She recalled that COP29 in Baku set a new climate finance target of at least $300 billion per year, while COP30 expanded this ambition with the Baku to Belém Roadmap, aiming for $1.3 trillion in annual mobilization by 2035 — targets that remain aspirational for now.
Açıkalın described Türkiye’s selection to lead COP31 as a major diplomatic achievement, marking the first time the country has chaired the summit within the Western European and Others Group (WEOG).
She attributed the milestone to Türkiye’s balanced foreign policy and strong ties with both European institutions and the Global South.
Author: Tuğçe Nur Kaya
Source: Newstime Hub
