D-8 Representatives Gather in Istanbul for COP31 Discussions

Chaired by COP31 President-Designate and Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, senior climate and environment officials from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye convened in Istanbul. 

Addressing the D-8 COP31 Meeting—held for the first time on the margins of a Ministerial Meeting on Environment, Minister Kurum stressed that climate change is a global crisis affecting economic development, cities, food security, energy systems, and communities.

Highlighting that host nation Türkiye places environmental stewardship, urban development, and climate action at the heart of its sustainable growth strategy, Kurum remarked: “We are fully prepared to leverage the COP31 platform to share our experience with all parties—from post-disaster rebuilding and the Zero Waste Movement to resilient cities, energy efficiency, the circular economy, sustainable infrastructure, and green tech.”

Director of Climate Change Prof. Halil Hasar also attended the summit.

Reiterating that Türkiye's roadmap for COP31 is built on three core pillars—Dialogue, Consensus, and Action—Minister Kurum outlined the 10 priority action areas designed to deliver a true 'COP of the Future.'

Minister Kurum listed the key global targets for 2035: “We have set ambitious global goals, including boosting global electrification to 35%, cutting the growth rate of waste generation in half, slashing energy intensity in buildings by at least 25%, and raising the use of circular materials in manufacturing to at least 15%. We are also committing to ensuring every child and young person receives quality education on climate change and climate-resilient agriculture, alongside driving climate finance to the frontlines faster, more effectively, and more inclusively. Every single one of these targets feeds into our shared vision of making our cities safer, our economies more competitive, our communities more resilient, and our future generations stronger.”

Director of Climate Change Hasar Addresses Singapore Embassy Conference Series

EP Desk

Prof. Halil Hasar, Director of Climate Change, has delivered a speech at a conference hosted by the Embassy of Singapore in Ankara recently.

Hasar, COP31 Chief Climate Diplomacy Officer and Director of Climate Change, was the guest speaker at the 25th edition of the Conference Series organized by the Embassy of Singapore to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance diplomatic knowledge-sharing between Türkiye and Singapore.

The upcoming COP31 summit in Antalya took center stage during the event.

Hosted by Singapore’s Ambassador Kok Li Peng, the gathering provided a platform for Climate Change Director Hasar to share key insights on the COP31 preparatory process and the Global Action Agenda.

Emphasizing Türkiye's climate vision, Hasar noted, “As Türkiye, our goal on the road to Antalya is to build consensus, strengthen international cooperation, and deliver concrete actions at COP31.”

Hasar also outlined technical details regarding COP31, elaborating on Türkiye's position within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP processes, COP31 governance and organization, Türkiye’s candidacy process, prep work, and the COP31 Action Agenda, while detailing the country's broader climate policies with attendees.

COP31 Initiative Invites Global Organizations to Showcase SDG, ESG Leadership

EP Desk

Organizations with strong commitments to sustainability, climate action and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles have been invited to participate in a high-profile initiative alongside the 2026 UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.

The COP31 100 Global Impact Leaders program, jointly organized by the UN World Women Organization, the Global CSR Foundation, and international business publication The European, aims to recognize organizations that are making significant contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate action.

The initiative will bring together businesses, investors, policymakers, financial institutions and sustainability leaders during COP31, providing selected participants with opportunities for global recognition, executive networking and media exposure.

At the heart of the program is the publication “100 Global Impact Leaders: Advancing the SDGs Toward 2030,” a special supplement highlighting companies, institutions, policymakers and innovators demonstrating measurable progress in sustainability and responsible business practices.

The initiative comes as sustainability reporting and ESG disclosure continue to gain prominence worldwide. Organizers noted that the UN Sustainable Development Goals have become central to corporate investment and reporting strategies, while new international sustainability reporting standards and growing investor expectations are increasing demand for transparent climate and ESG performance.

According to the organizers, the program is designed to help participating organizations demonstrate leadership in climate action, strengthen relationships with investors and policymakers, highlight sustainable business practices, enhance executive visibility and build international partnerships ahead of the 2030 SDG deadline.