BREAKING NEWS | Call from Minister Kurum to young people before COP31: Youth is not the spectator of the future, but its founder

COP31 Meeting with Youth Climate Volunteers Program was held in Antalya on November 7, 2026. The COP31 President addressed the young people who came to Antalya from all over the world and drew attention to the role of young people in the climate struggle, volunteer work and the goals of COP31.

Addressing the young people who came to Antalya from all over the world to protect the world, our common home, the COP31 President greeted the participants and welcomed them to Antalya.

Stating that every meeting with young people renews faith in the future, COP31 President stated that youth have the courage to make it better instead of settling for the world left to them.

"THE GROWTH STORY OF YOUTH AND THE WORLD'S CLIMATE STRUGGLE PROGRESSED ON THE SAME SCHEDULE"

Pointing out that the young generation has grown up seeing the consequences of climate change in their daily lives, the COP31 President touched upon the effects of the climate crisis on the lives of young people.

Reminding that climate summits were held at the time when young people were born, countries set emission targets and international negotiations continued, COP31 President said, "Your growth story and the world's climate struggle progressed on the same calendar."

COP31 President stated that a hotter, more fragile and more prone to disaster world awaits young people today; He pointed out that drought, floods, extreme heat, decreasing water resources, affecting agricultural production and the increase in food prices are problems that trigger each other.

Emphasizing that the climate crisis is not only an environmental issue, COP31 President said that we have entered a period in which all areas of life are being reshaped, from energy production to the establishment of cities, from food to technology.

Referring to the importance of young people having a say on climate, the COP31 President said, "It is your right to demand faster steps. It is your right to demand that the promises made be kept. And most importantly, it is your right to be at the table in the decisions made about your future."

COP31'S BASIC PHILOSOPHY: "DIALOGUE, CONSENSUS, ACTION"

Reminding that Antalya will host the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Climate Change two days later, the COP31 President stated that leaders, ministers, scientists, entrepreneurs, civil society representatives and young people from all over the world will meet in Antalya.

Stating that the summit is of great importance for the COP31 Presidency, the COP31 President said that the world is going through a difficult period and nature is giving a message to humanity with extreme heat, drought, floods, fires and disappearing water resources.

"Time is running out," said the COP31 President, noting that the climate crisis has similar consequences in different geographies, from excessive rainfall in Istanbul to floods in Nepal, from drought in the Mediterranean basin to extreme weather events seen in different parts of the world.

"The borders on the maps are different. But the sky has no limit. Water has no limit. The climate has no limit," said the COP31 President, emphasizing that the solution should go beyond the borders.

Stating that seeing, knowing and talking about the climate problem alone is not enough, COP31 President stated that now is the time for implementation and explained the basic approach of COP31 in three words: "Dialogue. Consensus. Action."

He stated that within the scope of this approach, the aim is first to listen mutually, then to expand the common ground and finally to carry the decisions taken to the field.

"CLIMATE JUSTICE IS THE JUSTICE OF THE FUTURE"

Stating that many topics such as clean energy, resilient cities, food security, water resources, industry and ocean protection will be discussed within the scope of COP31, the COP31 President drew attention to the importance of justice in climate diplomacy.

Stating that the quest for justice carried by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's call "The world is bigger than five" voiced on international platforms will also be defended in climate diplomacy, COP31 President said that an order in which the burden of the climate crisis is carried by the societies with the least responsibility cannot be sustainable.

"Climate justice is the justice of the future," said the COP31 President, adding that the progress of humanity and the protection of nature are not rivals, and that the real civilization is to keep these two elements alive together.

COP31 President asks young people not only to protect the trust left to them, but also to grow it; He stated that cleaner cities should be established, new technologies should be developed and science should be put at the service of nature.

MORE THAN 45 THOUSAND APPLICATIONS FROM 154 COUNTRIES TO COP31 VOLUNTEERING PROGRAM

Referring to the international interest shown in the COP31 Volunteer Program, the COP31 President announced that more than 45 thousand applications were made to the program from 154 countries of the world.

Stating that this interest shows that young people are ready to take responsibility, COP31 President said, "The young people of the world do not just want to rest. The young people of the world want to get to work."

COP31 President stated that volunteers will work at different points of the COP31 organization; He noted that young people will assume responsibilities in many areas, from welcoming leaders to guiding scientists, from helping country delegations to contributing to the organization of meetings.

Emphasizing that even the seemingly small tasks carried out by volunteers are of great importance, the COP31 President said, "Sometimes a country's memory of Türkiye will be hidden in your behavior of a few seconds."

CLIMATE SOLUTIONS IN THE BLUE AND GREEN ZONES WILL BE DISCUSSED AT COP31

Stating that major negotiations will be held in the Blue Zone within the scope of COP31 and that leaders and ministers will evaluate the common future of humanity, COP31 President said that scientists, entrepreneurs, artists and civil society representatives will share new solutions in the Green Zone.

Stating that clean technologies, Zero Waste practices, art, culture and thousands of years of production wisdom of Anatolia will be parts of the same climate story, COP31 President stated that one of the most powerful images of the summit will be the coming together of young people from different countries for a common purpose.

He drew attention to the importance of the unity of young people with the words "Different countries. Different cultures. Different languages. A common earth."

"NOT ONLY DECISIONS, BUT ALSO FRIENDSHIP AND PROJECTS SHOULD REMAIN FROM ANTALYA"

Referring to the importance of what will remain of Antalya after COP31, the COP31 President reminded that the halls will be empty after the organization and the delegations will return to their countries.

Stating that the real problem will start after the summit, the COP31 President said that not only the decisions from Antalya; He stated that he wanted friendships, new ideas, partnerships, projects and unforgettable memories to remain in young people's lives.

Stating that he wants young people to be able to tell that they are a part of this great organization after years, COP31 President said, "You are not volunteering for an organization today. You are volunteering for a future. You are volunteering for the world where unborn children will live."

Stating that he believes that young people will carry hope from Antalya to the world, together with Youth and Climate Ambassador Hüseyin Atakan Kubat, the COP31 President concluded his speech with the following words for young people:

"May your energy be high. May your courage be strong. May your hope never diminish. Now is the time to claim that trust. Now is the time to turn the words of the youth into action. I say now is the time to leave your mark on the world. I say Lets COP. I greet you all with love."