The “COP31 Business Forum - Turkish Business Community Consultation Meeting” was held in Ankara recently, chaired by COP31 President-Designate and Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, alongside the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.
Highlighting landmark projects such as the domestic automobile and the Zero Waste Movement at the forum—organized by TOBB, which has been designated the "COP31 Private Sector Envoy"—Minister Kurum called for deep cooperation from sector representatives throughout the COP31 cycle.
“Let us broadcast this vision to the entire world and collectively revitalize Türkiye's success stories,” Kurum urged.
“In the run-up to COP31, let us work together to outline the green transition commitments, best practice models, and the necessary financial and policy instruments required by the Turkish private sector—the crown jewel of our economy. In the run-up to COP31, let us deliver a collaborative framework that makes the tangible contributions of our private sector visible, establishes Türkiye as a global brand in this field through its participation, workflows, and overarching vision, and reflects the stance, attitude, and vision of our business community.”
Emphasizing that the ministry will work hand-in-hand with the business community throughout the COP31 process, Minister Kurum stated: “Today, we are elevating our strong cooperation to an entirely new level as we roll up our sleeves to leave the private sector's stamp on COP31. Throughout this process, TOBB will drive broad participation by defining the priorities of our business community and establishing a robust national stakeholder base.”
Minister Kurum outlined Türkiye's COP31 vision to business leaders, which is built on the paradigm of the “COP of the Future: COP of Implementation.”
Addressing the green transition in the industrial sector, Minister Kurum stated: "In today’s world, global trade rules that have been shaped since the Industrial Revolution are being rewritten around the axis of the 'Green Transition.' The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is becoming a prerequisite for our exports, market share, and global competitiveness.
Stressing that the COP31 process represents a major opportunity for all stakeholders, Minister Kurum said: “COP31 must not be viewed merely as a bureaucratic exercise run by governments. Instead, you must see it as a climate and development mobilization with our business community leading the charge.”
Minister Kurum concluded his address with a call to the business delegates: “Let us broadcast this vision to the entire world and collectively revitalize Türkiye's success stories. In the run-up to COP31, let us work together to outline the green transition commitments, best practice models, and the necessary financial and policy instruments required by the Turkish private sector—the crown jewel of our economy.”
In his opening remarks, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that under Minister Kurum’s directive, TOBB has been tasked as the “COP31 Private Sector Envoy” to coordinate the global business community.
Underscoring that Türkiye aims to lead the way in the green transition, Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “The climate struggle is no longer purely an environmental issue; it is the industrial and competitive arena of the 21st century. Whoever dictates the factories, supply chains, and technology standards of the green transition will command the industrial hierarchy of this century.
Speaking at the forum, the Director of Climate Change, Prof. Halil Hasar, addressed technical inquiries from delegates regarding verification and reporting frameworks.
The forum was widely attended by business executives, representatives of non-governmental organization, presidents of various chambers and commodity exchanges, and numerous invited guests.
