COP31 Summit in Antalya: Turkey's Climate Leadership Goal and Criticisms
The COP31 climate summit held in Antalya serves as a stage for Turkey's efforts to strengthen its role in global climate diplomacy. While the government highlights its net-zero targets, criticisms regarding coal usage and environmental policies accompany the discussions.
The United Nations COP31 climate summit has begun in Antalya, scheduled to continue until November 20, 2026. While President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan aims to position Turkey as a key player in climate diplomacy, Environment Minister Murat Kurum, who is presiding over the summit, stated that they aim to establish common ground between developed and developing countries.
The government places its 2053 net-zero emission target and investments in wind and solar energy at the center of its climate strategy. However, these targets are criticized on the grounds that they contradict the reality of Turkey being Europe's largest coal-based electricity producer in 2024.
Human Rights Watch and local activists such as Esra Işık argue that the government prioritizes corporate mining projects over environmental protection. Furthermore, interventions against environmental protests and the prosecution of activists are among the controversial topics during the summit process. Environment Minister Murat Kurum stated that he had no information regarding the arrests at mining sites.
Sources
- nytimes.com · Link