Turkey's Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz has announced that his country will bid to host the next UN climate change conference (COP31). He made the proposal during the ongoing COP30 meeting in Brazil, state-run TRT Haber reported, BTA reports.
In his speech at the opening of the forum, Yilmaz stressed that Turkey is ready to play the role of a bridge between East and West in efforts to overcome the climate crisis.
According to TRT Haber, The main focuses of this year's conference are global geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, negative climate impacts, deepening inequality and the reduction of financial support for recovery and climate initiatives.
Yılmaz pointed out that climate change has already become a threat to the goals of sustainable development:
“This is no longer just an environmental problem, but a complex global challenge. Overcoming it requires strong international cooperation. It is time for the hopes we shared ten years ago to turn into real results.“
He stressed the importance of implementing the agreement agreed in the Financial Agreement, part of the Baku to Belem Roadmap, in order to align national energy and climate strategies.
The Vice President also presented Turkey's progress in recycling and zero waste policies, implemented under the patronage of First Lady Emine Erdogan, as well as efforts to implement the Paris Agreement.
Yılmaz emphasized that the country has adopted an ambitious vision for transitioning to a low-carbon economy by 2053. Over 60% of the energy mix already comes from renewable sources, while energy efficiency and the implementation of low-carbon technologies and circular economy principles are increasing in parallel. Turkey prioritizes rail transport, enters the era of electric cars and expands its zero-waste program.
According to the national climate declaration, Turkey plans to reduce its carbon emissions to 695 million tons by 2030 and to 643 million tons by 2035. This year, the Turkish parliament adopted the first climate law, which introduced the Emissions Trading System and the Green Finance Strategy. A national classification of economic activities that contribute to sustainable development is also forthcoming.