COP31: Türkiye Says Antalya Summit Tops NATO, OTS Gatherings
(MENAFN) World leaders have praised the heavy investment and painstaking preparation behind COP31, the UN’s annual climate conference, Türkiye’s communications director said Wednesday. The summit is being held in the southern city of Antalya.
“With COP31, Türkiye has demonstrated to both the world and its region that it is at the center of diplomacy,” Burhanettin Duran told a news conference.
Duran pointed to earlier NATO and Organization of Turkic States (OTS) summits on Turkish soil, saying COP31 reinforced the country’s place at the heart of international diplomacy.
He said the summit’s motto, “Dialogue, Consensus and Action,” reflects a basic point: talk alone cannot solve environmental problems. Countries must first agree, he said, then turn their decisions into concrete steps. He named climate justice and the delivery of existing commitments as the two defining issues in Antalya.
Developed nations, whose industrialization did the most environmental harm, carry the greater responsibility, Duran argued. Instead of shifting the burden to developing countries, he said, wealthy states should share funding and technology to back climate action and environmental protection.
Climate justice was a central theme of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s speech, he said, along with the need to make sure pledges are carried out.
“President Erdogan stressed that ‘We will not just pretend to act. The decisions taken must be implemented. We will continue working on this,’” Duran said.
Gaza raised in climate debate
Duran said the international community cannot ignore Gaza while it debates climate change.
“President Erdogan used a very critical concept. He said: ‘There is a genocide being carried out by the Netanyahu government in Gaza, but they did not stop there. By destroying olive trees, they also committed an environmental genocide there,’” he said.
Bilateral talks led by Erdogan also touched on Türkiye’s handling of the summit, Duran said, with visiting leaders voicing appreciation and thanking the Turkish president.
Erdogan has held 10 bilateral meetings since reaching Antalya, according to Duran, who said an equally packed schedule was expected the next day and that the total should pass 20. The president has also delivered two addresses at the summit. Duran added that former COP presidencies had jointly backed Türkiye’s bid to take the COP31 presidency, a show of support he called important to the summit’s progress.
About 4,000 journalists on site
The Communications Directorate worked with the UN on press accreditation, Duran said, and roughly 4,000 reporters from five continents are covering the event.
“We are very pleased that the summit, which runs through Nov. 20, has attracted such strong media interest,” he said.
He voiced hope that the gathering, which has drawn academics, civil society groups and a wide range of other participants, will produce meaningful results that also lead to practical action.
Beyond its media duties, the directorate has launched several projects, Duran said. They include a book on climate diplomacy, a glossary of climate terminology and a publication outlining the goals of Türkiye’s COP31 presidency.
“We are carrying out a comprehensive effort by publishing books, bringing these issues to public attention and combating disinformation,” he said.
Bigger than NATO, OTS summits, official says
Duran called Antalya an ideal host, describing it as one of the loveliest meeting points of blue and green. He credited Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum for his major role in the preparations, alongside Erdogan’s leadership.
“All leaders recognize and appreciate that COP31 has been organized through significant investment and tremendous effort,” Duran said.
Türkiye is working to give the nearly 4,000 journalists the best possible conditions and to send strong climate messages to the world from Antalya, he added. He said he had received positive feedback on the arrangements, stressing the scale of the preparations and the city’s capacity to host major international events.
“Indeed, we are talking about a summit that is larger than the NATO and OTS summits,” he said.
He said he hoped journalists, civil society groups and volunteers fighting climate change would be satisfied with the summit environment and the services provided.
“With COP31, Türkiye has demonstrated to both the world and its region that it is at the center of diplomacy,” Burhanettin Duran told a news conference.
Duran pointed to earlier NATO and Organization of Turkic States (OTS) summits on Turkish soil, saying COP31 reinforced the country’s place at the heart of international diplomacy.
He said the summit’s motto, “Dialogue, Consensus and Action,” reflects a basic point: talk alone cannot solve environmental problems. Countries must first agree, he said, then turn their decisions into concrete steps. He named climate justice and the delivery of existing commitments as the two defining issues in Antalya.
Developed nations, whose industrialization did the most environmental harm, carry the greater responsibility, Duran argued. Instead of shifting the burden to developing countries, he said, wealthy states should share funding and technology to back climate action and environmental protection.
Climate justice was a central theme of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s speech, he said, along with the need to make sure pledges are carried out.
“President Erdogan stressed that ‘We will not just pretend to act. The decisions taken must be implemented. We will continue working on this,’” Duran said.
Gaza raised in climate debate
Duran said the international community cannot ignore Gaza while it debates climate change.
“President Erdogan used a very critical concept. He said: ‘There is a genocide being carried out by the Netanyahu government in Gaza, but they did not stop there. By destroying olive trees, they also committed an environmental genocide there,’” he said.
Bilateral talks led by Erdogan also touched on Türkiye’s handling of the summit, Duran said, with visiting leaders voicing appreciation and thanking the Turkish president.
Erdogan has held 10 bilateral meetings since reaching Antalya, according to Duran, who said an equally packed schedule was expected the next day and that the total should pass 20. The president has also delivered two addresses at the summit. Duran added that former COP presidencies had jointly backed Türkiye’s bid to take the COP31 presidency, a show of support he called important to the summit’s progress.
About 4,000 journalists on site
The Communications Directorate worked with the UN on press accreditation, Duran said, and roughly 4,000 reporters from five continents are covering the event.
“We are very pleased that the summit, which runs through Nov. 20, has attracted such strong media interest,” he said.
He voiced hope that the gathering, which has drawn academics, civil society groups and a wide range of other participants, will produce meaningful results that also lead to practical action.
Beyond its media duties, the directorate has launched several projects, Duran said. They include a book on climate diplomacy, a glossary of climate terminology and a publication outlining the goals of Türkiye’s COP31 presidency.
“We are carrying out a comprehensive effort by publishing books, bringing these issues to public attention and combating disinformation,” he said.
Bigger than NATO, OTS summits, official says
Duran called Antalya an ideal host, describing it as one of the loveliest meeting points of blue and green. He credited Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum for his major role in the preparations, alongside Erdogan’s leadership.
“All leaders recognize and appreciate that COP31 has been organized through significant investment and tremendous effort,” Duran said.
Türkiye is working to give the nearly 4,000 journalists the best possible conditions and to send strong climate messages to the world from Antalya, he added. He said he had received positive feedback on the arrangements, stressing the scale of the preparations and the city’s capacity to host major international events.
“Indeed, we are talking about a summit that is larger than the NATO and OTS summits,” he said.
He said he hoped journalists, civil society groups and volunteers fighting climate change would be satisfied with the summit environment and the services provided.
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