President Erdoğan's emphasis on 'environmentalist' echoed around the world: 'The most powerful speeches of COP31'

President Erdoğan made a statement at the opening meeting of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) Leaders Summit held in Antalya. Expressing his satisfaction in hosting the guest heads of state and government in Türkiye for the summit, Erdoğan wished that the consultations and decisions to be taken within the scope of COP31 will be beneficial for all countries and humanity. Erdoğan stated that fragile countries' access to finance and technology should be facilitated in the fight against the climate crisis, and also drew attention to the environmental destruction in Gaza.

Erdoğan said, "Not only was there a genocide, but also an environmental slaughter. Centuries-old olive trees were cut down in Gaza. We planted olive trees today. While the centuries-old trees were cut down, the soil and water were polluted. Cities turned into rubble. People were imprisoned in tents in the mud. Aren't these people?" He reacted by saying.

World media stated that President Erdoğan gave important messages about the global climate crisis and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. In the news, it was noted that Erdoğan made one of the strongest speeches at the summit, and attention was drawn to Israel's policies of destruction and oppression in Gaza.

CNN BRAZIL: ERDOĞAN AND LULA'S SPEECHES WERE THE STRONGEST SPEECHES

In the evaluation made on CNN Brazil's Hora H program, it was stated that the first day of the COP31 Leaders Summit was marked by the speeches of the host President Erdoğan and Brazilian President Lula da Silva. It was noted that the speeches of the two leaders were the most important and effective speeches of the day.

In the analysis, it was noted that Erdogan and Lula followed similar paths in their speeches. It was stated that the two leaders demanded that rich countries take responsibility for contributing more significantly to the fight against climate change. CNN Brazil emphasized that Erdogan and Lula stated that the wars and energy crisis caused by the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran cannot be a reason for not taking more serious measures to combat global warming.

Recalling that Erdogan and Lula had a bilateral meeting the day before the event, the analysis pointed out that the leaders demanded that the countries that cause the most pollution be held accountable. Erdogan and Lula reportedly advocated multilateralism as a way to combat the climate crisis.

TAGESSCHAU: ERDOĞAN AND GUTERRES WANT MORE AMBITIOUS GOALS

German news site Tagesschau reported that many heads of state and government are demanding stronger climate protection measures at the ongoing climate summit in Antalya, Türkiye. The news reported that Erdogan wanted a turning point in the fight against global warming and that approximately 70 heads of state and government listened to the general assembly session.

Tagesschau said later in Erdoğan's speech, "We have two options before us. We will either look at the difficulties and complain, or we will embrace hope and take action. We chose to light candles instead of shaking our fists at the darkness." He added that this climate summit should be a turning point in the fight against global warming.

The news stated that Turkey and Australia sharing the leadership of the conference was an unprecedented situation, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was quoted as saying, "The good news is that rapid progress is possible with investments in green technologies such as wind turbines, solar panels or electric cars."

DIPLOMATIC INSIGHT: ERDOĞAN RECEIVED GREAT SUPPORT

Diplomatic Insight stated that Erdoğan's statements regarding Gaza received great support in the hall. While it was emphasized in the news that Türkiye had maintained its stance since the first day of the Gaza war, it was stated that Israel was not invited to the summit and that a UN-backed panel of independent experts concluded last year that Israel's actions in Gaza amounted to genocide. Diplomatic Insight noted that Erdogan's statements came after heavy rains in recent days destroyed many tents and makeshift shelters where displaced Palestinians lived.

According to the UN Environment Programme's 2025 report, it was noted that investigations conducted with remote sensing methods showed that as of May 2025, more than 97 percent of tree products, 82 percent of annual products, 95 percent of shrub areas and 89 percent of pasture and fallow areas were damaged. The report stated that Gaza's fishing livelihoods were almost completely destroyed and marine ecosystems were polluted with ammunition, sewage and solid waste.

THE NEW ARAB: 'ERDOĞAN'S EMPHASIS ON ENVIRONMENTAL MURDER'

The New Arab announced that Erdoğan described Israel's war on Gaza as "environmental massacre" at the UN COP31 summit. It was stated that Erdogan wanted to provide more humanitarian aid access to Palestinian lands.

In the news, Erdoğan, with the support of world leaders, said, "Are these people not even deemed worthy of a tent? We want to send containers, but it is not allowed. In the last few days, heartbreaking news has been coming from Gaza again. Combined with the destroyed infrastructure, heavy rains and floods in Gaza, tens of thousands of tents and shelters were flooded. Hundreds of thousands of our Gazan brothers, who have no roof to take shelter under, especially innocent children, who are shivering, are in the water. "They are struggling to survive, often without parents, in these winter conditions. I have to express this frankly here. No one who sees, knows or witnesses such a shameful situation for humanity can be relieved of responsibility." He was quoted as saying.

ASSOCIATED PRESS: ERDOĞAN WANTS RECOGNITION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CURSE IN GAZA

The Associated Press reported that Erdogan called for the world to recognize the environmental impacts of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. It was noted in the news that Erdoğan emphasized that "What happened in Gaza was not only a genocide, but also an environmental destruction", to the applause of world leaders and other climate representatives.

In the news, Erdoğan said, "There was not only a genocide but also an environmental destruction in Gaza. Centuries-old olive trees were cut down in Gaza. We planted olive trees today. While the centuries-old trees were cut down, the soil and water were polluted. Cities turned into rubble. People were imprisoned in tents in the mud. Aren't these people?" statement was included.

According to local health officials, Israel's retaliatory attack caused the death of more than 74 thousand people and the destruction of a large part of Gaza. It was stated that the Ministry of Health of Gaza's Hamas-led government did not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but stated that almost half of the dead were women and children. AP emphasized that Erdogan is an outspoken critic of Israel.

N-TV: ERDOĞAN BROUGHT THE GAZA WAR ON THE AGENDA

German news channel N-TV drew attention to President Erdogan's statement in his speech at the opening of the summit of heads of state and government within the scope of the climate conference, "Countries that have the least impact on climate change often pay the heaviest prices." The news reported that Erdoğan called for more decisive climate protection measures and added that "not only genocide but also environmental destruction is taking place" in the Gaza Strip.

N-TV recalled that Türkiye offered to send containers to the suffering people, but Israel rejected it, and said that Erdogan was talking about a policy of "cruelty and oppression" that should be ended.

In the news, Erdoğan said, "Humanitarian aid should be allowed to pass into the region immediately, this isolation policy should end, this oppression, this brutality should end and be ended." statements were included.

Stating that global warming is "one of the most serious existential crises in human history", Erdoğan said: "As humanity, our house has only one roof. That is the sky. As humanity, our house has only one garden. That is the earth. I would like to say openly that we do not have another sky, another earth, seas, oceans or forests." He was recorded as saying.