Türkiye is seeking to use its presidency of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) to strengthen international climate cooperation and expand the global reach of its Zero Waste initiative, officials said at a panel organised by the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications.

The panel, titled “From Zero Waste to COP31: Türkiye’s Climate Diplomacy,” brought together government officials and academics to discuss the link between waste management and climate policies, Türkiye’s role in international climate diplomacy, and the responsibilities facing the country ahead of the summit.

Opening remarks were delivered by COP31 President and Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum and Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran.

The discussion was moderated by Merve Özdemir, an associate professor at Yozgat University’s Faculty of Communication, and featured Halil Hasar, director of the Climate Change Department at the Environment Ministry; Abdulmenaf Turan of Ankara University’s Faculty of Applied Sciences; Mehmet Ali Kahraman, director of the COP31 Presidency Office; and Mustafa Erdağı, director-general of the Zero Waste Foundation.

Speaking at the panel, Hasar said negotiations over hosting COP31 had begun three and a half years ago, highlighting the lengthy diplomatic process behind the conference.

He stressed that the summit should produce a concrete action agenda capable of delivering measurable results, adding that political commitments, clear targets and sustained efforts were essential to ensuring the continuity of climate action.

Hasar said COP conferences should not be viewed merely as events or diplomatic gatherings, but as ongoing processes in which countries discuss their development plans and decisions affecting their implementation.

His remarks highlighted the challenge of translating international climate commitments into practical policies and results.

Climate finance remains a major challenge

Turan said the world was undergoing three major transformations — digital, green and spatial — and argued that climate diplomacy should play a central role in managing their combined effects.

He said Türkiye’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2053 and its Climate Law, adopted in 2025, should be considered within this broader transformation.

Turan cautioned that pursuing long-term climate objectives could create short-term challenges and require compromises, underscoring the need to balance environmental goals with economic and development priorities.

Kahraman said the action agenda presented during COP31 preparatory meetings reflected an emphasis on implementation and practical cooperation between countries.

He said the agenda was designed to bridge differences between developed and developing nations by focusing on issues that could be incorporated into their respective national priorities.

“Food security and agriculture, clean energy, and green industrialisation, for example, are among our agenda items,” Kahraman said, adding that these priorities were relevant to countries at different stages of development.

He also warned that mounting financial pressures were limiting the resources available for climate action.

“Against the backdrop of this financial crisis, the resources allocated to combating climate change are no longer as substantial as they once were,” he said.

The issue of climate finance remains a central concern in international climate negotiations, particularly for developing countries seeking funding and technological support to reduce emissions and adapt to the effects of global warming.

COP31 seen as opportunity to expand Zero Waste initiative

Erdağı said COP31 should be regarded as a significant milestone in Türkiye’s longer-term efforts to promote environmental sustainability.

He stressed that the work surrounding climate conferences extended well beyond the two-week summit itself, requiring years of preparation, implementation and follow-up.

“As the Zero Waste Foundation, we see COP31 as an important opportunity to further expand the Zero Waste initiative globally and promote the adoption of best practices both in Türkiye and internationally,” Erdağı said.

He added that the foundation planned to develop programmes and publications to broaden the initiative’s reach.

Türkiye’s Zero Waste initiative focuses on reducing waste generation, improving recycling and encouraging more sustainable patterns of production and consumption. The country has sought to promote the initiative internationally as part of its broader environmental diplomacy.

The panel underscored Ankara’s intention to connect its domestic sustainability efforts with international climate negotiations, while highlighting the importance of financing, practical implementation and cooperation between developed and developing countries.

As preparations for COP31 continue, Türkiye faces the challenge of turning its stated priorities into concrete commitments and outcomes that can advance international climate action. (ILKHA)