Civil Society Ramps Up Climate Action Ahead of Türkiye’s COP31 Hosting
Ankara, Türkiye: As Türkiye prepares to host the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in November 2026, civil society organizations are stepping up efforts to push for stronger climate action and sustainable policies.
The İklim Ağı (Climate Network), formed in January 2025 by 15 Turkish civil society groups, including the European branch of the Climate Action Network (CAN Europe), is coordinating initiatives focused on policy advocacy, public awareness, and local climate projects.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Omur Kula, General Manager of WWF-Türkiye and a member of the network, called Türkiye’s hosting of COP31 a “historic opportunity” to strengthen climate policies and advance a carbon-free future.
She highlighted Türkiye’s National Energy Plan, which signals a coal phase-out within the next decade, and emphasized the urgent need to transition to 100% renewable energy, exit coal, and protect forests to mitigate climate impacts. Kula added, “Fighting climate change demands a profound socioeconomic transformation. We will persist in this effort.”
Founded in 1961, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has operated in Türkiye for nearly five decades, working on biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, forest and water management, and climate action, including protecting endangered species, reducing plastic pollution, and restoring habitats.
The COP serves as the UNFCCC’s highest decision-making body, convening annually since 1995 to assess global climate progress and negotiate collective measures.
COP31, scheduled for November 2026, will primarily take place in Antalya on Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast, with a leaders’ summit in Istanbul. Nearly 200 countries are expected to participate, with discussions focused on implementing the Paris Agreement, including updated emissions targets, adaptation strategies, climate finance, and carbon markets.
Türkiye’s civil society organizations hope that COP31 will catalyze ambitious national and global action, demonstrating the country’s leadership in driving climate solutions and promoting sustainable development.