Global Leaders Unite at COP31 to Tackle Climate Change Challenges
COP31 Leaders’ Summit Kicks Off in Antalya
File image shows global leaders gathered in Türkiye to discuss climate commitments at the COP31 summit(Photo: @UN_PGA/X)
Antalya (Türkiye), Nov 12: The inaugural day of the COP31 Leaders’ Summit witnessed nations generating political momentum around electrification, responding to the COP31 Presidency’s urgent calls for action on this critical issue.
Over 100 national leaders, along with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, convened in Antalya to reaffirm their dedication to combating climate change.
During his address, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye emphasized, “Respect for nature is fundamental to our civilization. The Earth is a sacred trust that requires protection and care… Our cultural values, which regard bread as fertility, water as sacred, and trees as life, guide our environmental and climate policies. This is Türkiye’s approach. By fulfilling our responsibilities in the climate change battle, we aim to be part of the solution rather than the problem.”
Subsequently, President Erdoğan led a high-level event focused on electrification, which included discussions on the opportunities and challenges in this area, attended by the UN Secretary-General.
Earlier this month, Türkiye showcased its commitment by releasing its National Energy Plan. President Erdoğan pointed out Türkiye’s decarbonization efforts, stating: “We are committed to a green transition across all sectors of our economy, from energy to industry, transport to agriculture, restructuring them with decarbonization in mind. We are enhancing our investments in renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and advocating for clean transportation solutions.”
COP31 President Murat Kurum remarked: “There is significant alignment between climate action and national interests. Efficient energy use enhances energy security. Investments in water bolster food security. Clean technologies open doors for industry and job creation. Resilient cities fortify our economies. Thoughtful climate action is an investment in prosperity, security, and competitiveness.”
The COP31 Presidency also organized a leader-level event aimed at promoting Green Industrialisation and garnering political backing for the Antalya Green Industrialisation Compact.
Given that industry contributes to approximately a quarter of global CO2 emissions, this compact is crucial for accelerating investments and establishing markets for low-emission industrial production.
This initiative aligns with the COP31 presidency’s goals regarding electrification and circularity, with the electrification of industrial processes and the increased use of circular materials serving as vital strategies for industry decarbonization.
During the summit, Emine Erdoğan, Türkiye’s First Lady, participated in a leader-level event focused on Zero Waste, aimed at garnering political support to cut the anticipated growth in global municipal solid waste generation by at least 50% by 2035 and to elevate the global circular material usage rate to a minimum of 15%.
The waste sector is responsible for about 20% of human-induced methane emissions, a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more effective than carbon dioxide in terms of atmospheric warming.
Zero Waste is a key thematic focus for the COP31 Presidency, and on the summit's opening day, the COP31 High-Level Champion introduced the #OneBillion Challenge, which seeks to engage individuals and organizations in reducing food waste.
This initiative, backed by the Zero Waste Foundation, aims to unite households, businesses, cities, organizations, and communities to take action, highlight solutions, and share outcomes and insights.
Additionally, the COP31 Presidency hosted a Global High-Level Dialogue on Methane Emissions from the Waste Sector to identify policies and projects that can advance methane reduction efforts.