COP31 Summit Begins in Antalya: Food, Agriculture and Health Addressed on the First Day

The 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) has begun in Antalya, and Turkey's presidency was announced to the world.

The opening of the COP31 summit in Antalya was attended by COP31 President and Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, and COP31 Lead Negotiator and Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen. The previous term's president, COP30 President Andre Aranha Correa do Lago of Australia, handed over his duties to Murat Kurum.

The theme of the first day of the summit was food, agriculture and health. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated that they aim to ensure the continuity of production and protect the livelihoods of producers. However, olive producers in the Karacasu district of Aydın stated that they are experiencing financial difficulties due to rising input costs and falling purchase prices, and that their income does not cover their costs.

Under the health heading, Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus held a joint press conference. While Memişoğlu noted that they are spreading the green hospital approach, SES Bitlis Branch announced that sufficient precautions are not being taken for ambulances and health workers under winter conditions.

At the business and investment summit organized by TOBB within the scope of the summit, bankers, oil company executives and ministers discussed investment opportunities. Making climate policies investable and global energy security were addressed in the sessions.