H.E. Vice Chairperson Zhai Qing,
Chairman of ACEF Wang Xiufeng,
Excellencies, Zao Shang Hao,

I would like to thank the 4th Belt and Road Forum for their kind invitation.

Today, climate change has become one of the most serious global challenges that humanity is facing. We were happy to see that last November in Belem, Brazil, the world witnessed a strong moment for multilateralism and joint climate action. This was when Türkiye and Australia reached a mutually beneficial arrangement for hosting the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 31).

According to this arrangement, Türkiye will host COP31 between 9 to 20 November 2026, as well as its Leaders Summit - both in Antalya. Türkiye will also assume the COP31 Presidency with H.E. Murat Kurum, Turkish Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change who will act as COP31 President-Designate.

And Australia will be the president of the negotiations and the Pre-COP meeting to be held in Pacific Island Countries, with a view to highlight the vulnerability of the Pacific region.

COP meetings are one of the biggest annual events in the world. Therefore, technical experts are meeting with the UNFCCC (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) Secretariat and our Australian friends to establish an effective coordination to reach substantial outcomes. Meanwhile, our relevant Ministries, institutions and municipalities are working meticulously to redesign the COP venue in the Mediterranean coastal city, Antalya.

Distinguished guests,

I will limit myself to Türkiye’s climate goals and objectives. As a member of the BRI, like China, Türkiye also advocates the shared responsibility to protect our planet with a clear vision and robust policies. Türkiye introduced similar objectives, like China, especially on renewable energy. We set ambitious targets for adaptation while boosting renewable energy for a low carbon future.

Over the last few years, Green Transition vision, 2053 Net Zero Emission target and Long-Term Climate Strategy were adopted. A robust roadmap covering all major sectors with a total of 89 different National Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies and Action Plans was introduced.

Last July, Türkiye ratified the Climate Law, which will serve as the legal basis for our national climate efforts.

In 2025, Türkiye also updated its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) with more ambitious targets and economy-wide approach.

In the meantime, Türkiye has become a party to the main global climate governance legal frameworks such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol, UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Convention on Biological Diversity, Bucharest Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea and Barcelona Convention on the Protection of Mediterranean.

One of the most important initiatives of Türkiye is the “Zero Waste Initiative” launched in 2017, under the auspices of our First Lady, H.E. Emine Erdoğan. The project which began to be implemented in Türkiye turned into a global movement with the UN 77th General Assembly Resolution on Zero Waste. With this initiative, 498 million trees, 2.6 billion kWh of energy and 819 million m3 of water were saved. 5.9 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions were prevented.

Dear participants,

Climate change is a cross-cutting issue linked to development, urbanization and social resilience. Our overall objective is to deliver inclusive, practical, and action-oriented outcomes that will accelerate climate action at all levels by building bridges between developed and developing countries.

The main emphasis on the outcome of the COP30 in Belem was to intensify impacts of climate change on economies and societies. Therefore, in the upcoming COP31, Türkiye will focus on how to instigate robust steps to translate ambition into action with a view to closing the implementation gap.

Thus, the themes of the COP31 will broadly be,

(i) accessible and transparent climate finance for all,
(ii) just transition for vulnerable groups while ensuring social inclusion,
(iii) measurable adaptation indicators applicable to local/national conditions,
(iv) strengthening resilience through adaptation,
(v) support to the national mitigation targets through means of implementation.

Together with our Australian colleagues, we wish to highlight the needs of vulnerable regions, including Africa and Pacific Island States. Additionally, we would like to emphasize the challenges of the Mediterranean region, as the region has been facing record temperature rise almost 20% higher than the world average.

Dear guests,

Climate change is a challenge for all humanity. It is a global responsibility for everyone.

To this end, Türkiye stands ready to work together with all countries, including members of the Belt and Road Initiative together with China, to tackle climate change. COP31 will be a good platform to meet all relevant stakeholders in order to build a fair, inclusive and beneficial global climate governance system.

We look forward to hosting the highest-level attendance from all relevant parties to the Leaders’ Summit and to have fruitful dialogue to build a resilient, sustainable, and climate-conscious future for all.

Xie Xie.