MELTEM GÜNEŞ / ANKARA - The 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, built on "dialogue, consensus and action", hosted by Turkey, starts today in Antalya. Leaders and ministers of 196 countries will discuss their commitments, policies and solution proposals against the climate crisis in Turkey. Many issues will be discussed, from climate finance to clean energy transformation, from zero waste to food security.
First time homeowner
Climate change is one of the most important global crises of today, affecting all countries regardless of borders and development levels. The negative effects of climate change, which directly affect sustainable development, such as temperature increase, drought, floods, forest fires, biodiversity loss, increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, sea level rise, melting of glaciers, food insecurity and increased health risks, are increasing in Turkey and the world. COP (Conference of the Parties) is the highest-level global climate summit held annually within the scope of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), adopted in 1992.
Bringing together heads of state and government, ministers, scientists, business leaders and civil society representatives from around the world, the COP is the primary platform to negotiate and advance joint action in the fight against climate change. Türkiye is hosting a COP organization for the first time.
Application COP
While Turkey considers hosting COP31 as a process that strengthens trust in the international system and deepens cooperation, it attaches importance to joint efforts to turn the decisions and targets taken in the COP processes so far into concrete steps. In this context, Turkey's COP31 vision was determined as "Implementation COP".
Diplomatic center: Blue Zone
Türkiye will host COP31 in Antalya on a total area of 1 million 100 thousand square meters, of which 527 thousand square meters is the Blue Zone and 582 thousand square meters is the Green Zone. The Blue Zone is the official negotiation area managed under the authority of the United Nations, where heads of state and ministers, national delegations, accredited observers, international organizations will conduct official negotiations that shape global climate policy. In other words, it is the diplomatic center where decisions are negotiated and accepted. Nearly 100 thousand visitors, including country delegations, are expected in the Blue Zone. The Blue Zone will be open only to participants accredited for official interviews.
Zero Waste on display
The Zero Waste Project, which is carried out under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's wife Emine Erdoğan and has turned into a global environmental movement, will be brought to the world showcase at COP31. First Lady Erdoğan will hold programs with the leaders' wives. Zero Waste experience will be transferred to them. Villages with a Zero Waste approach will be shown around. The Zero Waste Museum will be visited. In Antalya, Turkey's rich culinary culture will be introduced to the whole world. Local and foreign visitors will experience the local production, geographical diversity and traditional culinary culture of Anatolia in food houses established with the "7 Regions 7 Cuisines" approach. In the Green Zone, the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Turkish World, Gaziantep, Kayseri and Konya will present visitors with rich flavors prepared in Zero Waste kitchens.
Public Green Zone
The Green Zone represents the area organized under the coordination of the host country, Turkey. Within this region, the private sector, academia, non-governmental organizations, youth representatives, technology startups and innovators will meet to share climate solutions, establish partnerships and showcase innovative projects. It is expected that 1.5 million people will visit the Green Zone. In the Green Zone, the implementation of the issues discussed in the negotiations will be shown. Zero Waste, Climate Finance, Energy and Transportation, Science and Technology, Resilient Cities, Green Industrialization, Culture and Civilization, Business World (TOBB), Start-up Zone and COPArt thematic centers were created in the Green Zone.
Here is the COP31 program
Each day of the conference was devoted to a different theme. The schedule is as follows:
■ 9 November: Food, agriculture and health
■ 10 November: Energy and transportation
■ November 11: First day of zero waste and leaders summit
■ 12 November: Resilient cities, leaders' summit, day 2
■ November 13: Finance and trade
■ 14 November: Children, youth, education and skills
■ 15 November: Social and cultural programs in Antalya
■ 16 November: Science, industry and technology
■ November 17: Oceans, seas, nature and land use
■ 18 November: Human and social development
■ 19 November: İmece, strengthening the implementation
■ 20 November: Final negotiations and closing
Leaders from 102 countries are coming
The Leaders' Summit will be held on 11-12 November within the scope of COP31, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The main theme of the summit will be "Towards a Sustainable, Resilient and Equitable Future". 102 country leaders announced their participation for the summit, and more than 300 ministers will also attend. Meetings titled "Clean Energy Transformation and Electrification", "Seizing the Green Industry Opportunity: Investment, Employment and Growth for Every Economy" and "Zero Waste, Circularity and Methane" will be held on November 11. On November 12, high-level dialogues titled "Second Decade of the Paris Agreement: Accelerating Implementation and Access to Finance" and "Urban Resilience, Adaptation and Climate Action" will be held.
