President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has appointed Murat Kurum, Trkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, as President of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), according to a decision published in the Offi cial Gazette.
The decision also confi rmed that the Antalya EXPO site has been designated as the venue for the conference, refl ecting Trkiye’s preparations to host one of the world’s most important climate diplomacy gatherings. COP31 is expected to take place in 2026, subject to fi nal confi rmation under UNFCCC procedures.
In an offi cial statement, Turkish authorities said they look forward to welcoming international delegations to Antalya to take ‘more decisive and determined steps in climate action,’ underscoring Trkiye’s intention to play a more prominent role in global climate negotiations. Murat Kurum, who has overseen Trkiye’s climate, urban resilience, and environmental transformation policies, is expected to focus on adaptation, climate fi nance, sustainable urban development, and support for developing countries.