Turkey has officially been selected to host the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-31) in 2026, winning a competitive bid against Australia.
The announcement was made by Turkey’s Minister of Environment and Urbanization Murat Kurum, who described the decision as the result of an intensive diplomatic campaign.
Yüzlerce ikili görüşme, onlarca ülkeye yapılan iklim eksenli ziyaret, günler süren diplomatik müzakere…
Stay Ahead with Azerbaijan.usGet exclusive translations, top stories, and analysis — straight to your inbox.Ve nihayetinde COP31 Başkanı ve Ev Sahibi Türkiye! 🇹🇷
Bu tarihi sorumlulukla bugünden itibaren ortak evimiz dünyamız için en anlamlı maratonumuzu başlatıyoruz.… pic.twitter.com/mHzn30WuXq
— Murat KURUM (@murat_kurum) November 22, 2025
“Hundreds of bilateral meetings, visits to dozens of countries, and days of climate diplomacy led us here. Turkey is now the chair and host of COP-31,” Kurum said in a statement on X. “By taking on this historic responsibility, we begin the most important marathon for our common home – our world.”
Inclusive, Transparent Climate Process Promised
Kurum noted that Turkey aims to ensure “a fair, inclusive, open and transparent process” in line with the country’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2053 and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s green-transformation vision.
According to the minister, the conference itself is expected to take place in Antalya, while the leaders’ summit will be held in Istanbul, allowing Turkey to spotlight both its Mediterranean and global metropolitan centers.
The hosting decision marks a diplomatic win for Ankara and positions Turkey at the center of international climate negotiations in 2026.
