Istanbul: As Trkiye prepares to host the 31st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by the end of the year, it will announce its priorities through a joint meeting with the International Energy Agency (IEA).
According to Anadolu Agency, Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister and COP31 President Murat Kurum will hold a joint press conference with International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol in Istanbul on March 12 to outline Trkiye's priorities for the COP31 process, as announced on Thursday.
Trkiye had earlier presided over initial preparatory meetings for COP31 held in Istanbul on February 11-12. These sessions included participation via video conference from UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, and COP29 President and Azerbaijan President's special representative on climate issues Muhtar Babayev.
Trkiye aims to position itself as a voice for developing countries pursuing economic growth through climate justice, a just transition, and what officials describe as humane diplomacy in climate policy. It emphasizes that combating climate change promotes inclusive global prosperity and equity.
In alignment with this vision, Trkiye is accelerating renewable energy expansion, with combined installed wind and solar capacity recently surpassing 40 GW. According to WindEurope, the Brussels-based wind energy industry association, Trkiye ranked second in Europe for new wind power installations in 2025.
Trkiye and Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power are set to sign the second phase of a 5 GW renewable energy cooperation agreement during COP31 in Antalya. The overall 5 GW framework, with expected investment of about $4-5 billion, began with the first phase covering 2 GW of solar capacity in Sivas and the Taseli region. The second phase will include the remaining 3 GW through additional solar, wind, and energy storage projects.
Trkiye is also establishing a national Emissions Trading System (ETS), with a pilot phase expected to launch in 2026, highlighting the country's commitment to carbon pricing and market-based emissions reduction mechanisms.
The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the UNFCCC and has held annual meetings since 1995 to review climate progress and negotiate global climate action. The 31st session will be held in Trkiye in November, mainly in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya, while the World Leaders Summit is expected to take place in Istanbul. Trkiye will host COP31 through a partnership arrangement with Australia, with Trkiye overseeing hosting logistics and Australia presiding over negotiations.
Nearly 200 countries are expected to gather in Trkiye to discuss the next steps in implementing the Paris Agreement, including updated emission reduction targets, climate finance, adaptation measures, and carbon market rules. Hosting COP31 is seen as important for Trkiye in terms of strengthening its international visibility and playing a more active role in climate diplomacy. This process is expected to accelerate the country's green transformation efforts, with renewable energy, sustainable urbanization, and climate adaptation projects gaining greater prominence. Growing interest from international financial institutions and climate funds may also increase Trkiye's potential to attract investment in clean energy and climate finance.