Chaired by COP31 President-Designate and Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, senior climate and environment offi cials from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Trkiye convened in Istanbul.
Addressing the D-8 COP31 Meeting- held for the fi rst time on the margins of a Ministerial Meeting on Environment, Minister Kurum stressed that climate change is a global crisis affecting economic development, cities, food security, energy systems, and communities.
Highlighting that host nation Trkiye places environmental stewardship, urban development, and climate action at the heart of its sustainable growth strategy, Kurum remarked: ‘We are fully prepared to leverage the COP31 platform to share our experience with all parties- from post-disaster rebuilding and the Zero Waste Movement to resilient cities, energy effi ciency, the circular economy, sustainable infrastructure, and green tech.’ Director of Climate Change Prof.
Halil Hasar also attended the summit.
Reiterating that Trkiye’s roadmap for COP31 is built on three core pillars- Dialogue, Consensus, and Action- Minister Kurum outlined the 10 priority action areas designed to deliver a true ‘COP of the Future.’ Minister Kurum listed the key global targets for 2035: ‘We have set ambitious global goals, including boosting global electrifi cation to 35%, cutting the growth rate of waste generation in half, slashing energy intensity in buildings by at least 25%, and raising the use of circular materials in manufacturing to at least 15%.
We are also committing to ensuring every child and young person receives quality education on climate change and climate-resilient agriculture, alongside driving climate fi nance to the frontlines faster, more effectively, and more inclusively.
Every single one of these targets feeds into our shared vision of making our cities safer, our economies more competitive, our communities more resilient, and our future generations stronger.’