Istanbul: Leaders of past UN climate change conferences convened with the Turkish delegation at a three-day Zero Waste Foundation retreat in Istanbul to impart their experiences in preparation for COP31, which will be held in Antalya on Trkiye's Mediterranean coast this year.
According to Anadolu Agency, COP31, organized under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, is set to be hosted by Trkiye in Antalya, marking a significant event in the global climate agenda. The Zero Waste Foundation facilitated a three-day retreat in Istanbul from February 6 to 8 to set the groundwork for the summit, which is hailed as the most crucial climate gathering of the year.
Samed Agirbas, president of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 high-level climate champion, chaired the meeting, which included senior advisers, UN Zero-Waste Advisory Board members, and key COP31 stakeholders to strategize for the upcoming summit.
Nigar Arpadarai, the high-level climate champion of COP29 in Baku, and Ana Toni, CEO of COP30 in Belem, Brazil, shared insights with Anadolu about their experiences and discussions during the retreat. Arpadarai highlighted COP29's achievements, including a $300 billion climate finance agreement and advancements related to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which focuses on operationalizing carbon markets. She emphasized the Baku summit's role in advancing climate negotiations while stressing the continuous work needed.
Arpadarai referred to COP30 as an 'implementation COP,' noting the shift towards executing previously agreed decisions. She acknowledged the importance of international cooperation in shaping the planet's future and expressed readiness to support Trkiye's efforts in global climate action.
Ana Toni echoed the significance of the Zero Waste Foundation's preparatory meetings, commending the dynamic team and clear vision for the future under the leadership of COP31's high-level climate champion. She praised the Zero Waste Foundation's contributions, led by Emine Erdogan, in elevating the zero-waste agenda to a global movement.
Toni, reflecting on her experience with COP30, noted the complexities of reaching consensus in the current geopolitical climate. She highlighted the progress made at COP30, particularly regarding the discussions on phasing out fossil fuels, and underscored the importance of ongoing debates leading up to COP31.
Expressing confidence in Trkiye's leadership, Toni anticipated a successful COP31 facilitated by collaboration with Australia. She observed Ankara's pragmatic approach in preparing for the summit, ensuring the themes align with public needs.
Toni concluded by emphasizing the shift in focus at recent COPs toward implementing existing decisions across multiple areas such as oceans, electrification, zero waste, and gender, advocating for accelerated action to ensure comprehensive progress.