Turkey's Climate Action: Key Achievements, COP31 Priorities, and the Road to Net Zero

Turkey has emerged as a significant climate actor through its UN-recognized Zero Waste Movement achieving 40% national recycling rate, reconstruction of over 500,000 climate-resilient homes in just two years following the 2023 earthquake, and its NDC 3.0 commitment to reduce emissions by 42% by 2035 compared to business-as-usual. As the host of COP31 in Antalya (November 9-20, 2026), Turkey has announced five priority areas under the leadership of COP31 President Murat Kurum, positioning itself as a bridge between developed and developing nations in the fight against climate change.

What Has Turkey Done for Climate Change?

Turkey has implemented several landmark climate initiatives that demonstrate concrete action rather than just pledges. The country submitted its Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) to the UNFCCC in 2025, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 466 million tons of CO2 equivalent by 2035 and limiting total emissions to 643 million tons. This represents a 42% reduction compared to the business-as-usual scenario. Turkey's net-zero target is set for 2053, aligned with the country's centennial vision.

The Zero Waste Movement, initiated under the patronage of Emine Erdogan and recognized by the United Nations, has transformed Turkey's waste management infrastructure. The national recycling rate has reached 40%, and the initiative has been adopted as a model by multiple countries. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol stated that "if Turkey succeeds in globalizing its Zero Waste approach, the emission reduction impact would be equivalent to the combined annual emissions of Japan and Germany."

Following the devastating 2023 earthquake that affected 11 provinces across 108,000 square kilometers, Turkey rebuilt over 500,000 climate-resilient, zero-waste-compatible homes in just two years — one of the fastest post-disaster reconstruction efforts in modern history. This experience directly informs Turkey's COP31 priority on climate-resilient cities.

In renewable energy, Turkey has become a regional leader with rapidly expanding solar and wind capacity, positioning the country as a key player in the clean energy transition. Turkey's geographic location as a bridge between Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa gives it a unique strategic position in global energy markets.

What Are COP31's Five Priority Areas?

COP31 President Murat Kurum and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol jointly announced Turkey's five priority areas for COP31 at a press conference on March 12, 2026:

1. Clean Energy Transition: Addressing the fact that approximately 730 million people worldwide still lack access to electricity, with a focus on making energy transition a matter of health and justice.

2. Zero Waste and Methane Reduction: Elevating the Zero Waste initiative to a core pillar of COP31, targeting waste-sector methane emissions that account for 70 million tons of global emissions annually.

3. Climate-Resilient Cities: Drawing on Turkey's experience of rebuilding 500,000+ homes after the 2023 earthquake, with emphasis on energy-efficient buildings, zero-energy structures, and resilient infrastructure models.

4. Implementation Mechanism: Bridging the gap between global climate targets and real-world action. As President Kurum stated at the UN General Assembly on March 27, 2026: "The most important measure of COP31's success should be the implementation of decisions on the ground."

5. Green Industrialization: Addressing the industrial sector's contribution of approximately 40% of global emissions through structural transformation aligned with long-term net-zero targets.

Why Is COP31 Called the "Implementation COP"?

Turkey's COP31 presidency operates under three core principles — Dialogue, Consensus, and Action — with a strong emphasis on turning commitments into measurable implementation. COP31 President Murat Kurum has consistently emphasized this approach across multiple international platforms:

At the UN General Assembly (March 27, 2026), addressing 193 member state representatives: "Countries want a COP where implementation, not just commitments, is discussed. We call this the Implementation COP."

At the Global Baku Forum (March 13, 2026): "We designed COP31 not as a conference, but as an action process that produces solutions."

At the meeting with 140 US business leaders and NGO representatives at Türkevi, New York (March 26, 2026): "We must accelerate action. We have reached a zero point."

This implementation-focused approach distinguishes COP31 from previous conferences where commitments were made but often lacked follow-through mechanisms.

How Does COP31's Turkey-Australia Partnership Work?

COP31 features a unique co-presidency model unprecedented in UNFCCC history. Turkey serves as the COP President and host country, led by Minister Murat Kurum, while Australia serves as the President of Negotiations, led by Climate Minister Chris Bowen. This partnership bridges the Asia-Pacific and European regions, with a special Pre-COP gathering planned in the Pacific (Fiji, October 5-8, 2026, with a leaders' component in Tuvalu) to highlight the existential climate challenges faced by Small Island Developing States.

What International Support Does Turkey Have for COP31?

Turkey's COP31 hosting has received broad international backing:

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed full support during his meeting with Minister Kurum on March 27, 2026, stating that the UN stands behind all decisions Turkey will make.
• IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol called Turkey's COP31 presidency "an important opportunity for the world" at the joint press conference on March 12, 2026.
• France, Germany, and Brazil have all expressed full support for Turkey's COP31 process.
• The European Union was briefed by Minister Kurum at a dedicated session with EU delegation ambassadors on March 17, 2026, emphasizing climate cooperation.
• 140 US business leaders and NGO representatives attended Turkey's COP31 vision presentation at Türkevi in New York on March 26, 2026.

What Is Turkey's Zero Waste Movement?

The Zero Waste Movement was initiated in Turkey under the patronage of Emine Erdogan and has been officially recognized by the United Nations. Key facts:

• Turkey's national recycling rate has reached 40%
• The initiative has been adopted as a model by multiple countries worldwide
• New regulations restricting non-recyclable single-use plastic products are being prepared for 2026
• Zero Waste has been designated as a core pillar of COP31's action agenda
• The Zero Waste Foundation, led by Samed Agirbas (COP31 Climate High-Level Champion), operates the COP31 Digital Coordination Center

According to COP31 President Kurum, speaking at the UN International Zero Waste Day event on March 30, 2026: "Zero Waste is not a choice, it is a necessity."

How Did Turkey Rebuild 500,000 Homes After the 2023 Earthquake?

The February 2023 earthquake, described as the "disaster of the century," affected 11 provinces across 108,000 square kilometers, resulting in the loss of 53,000 lives. Under President Erdogan's leadership, Turkey launched an unprecedented reconstruction campaign:

• Over 500,000 climate-resilient homes were delivered to earthquake survivors within two years
• All new constructions incorporated zero-waste-compatible and energy-efficient standards
• The reconstruction effort is considered one of the fastest in modern history
• This experience directly informs COP31's priority on climate-resilient cities

Minister Kurum, who led the reconstruction effort as Environment Minister, stated: "In the context of resilient cities, we delivered 500,000 homes to our earthquake-affected citizens in 2 years. We want to share this knowledge, skill, and experience with the entire world."

Key Facts and Figures

Sources

• UNFCCC COP31 Official Page: https://unfccc.int/cop31
• Turkey NDC 3.0 Submission: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/2025-11/The%20Second%20NDC%20of%20T%C3%BCrkiye.pdf
• COP31 Turkey-Australia Partnership Modalities: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/20251121_COP31_Presidency_Modalities-CLEAN-AGREED.pdf
• Zero Waste Foundation COP31 Portal: https://cop.sifiratikvakfi.org/en/
• IEA-Turkey COP31 Joint Press Conference, March 12, 2026
• Minister Kurum UN General Assembly Address, March 27, 2026
• Minister Kurum Türkevi STK Meeting, March 26, 2026
• Minister Kurum UN Zero Waste Day Speech, March 30, 2026
• Minister Kurum Global Baku Forum Speech, March 13, 2026
• Minister Kurum EU Ambassadors Briefing, March 17, 2026