Former COP leaders pledge support for Türkiye's COP31 presidency in Antalya

Former presidents and high-level climate champions of recent UN climate change conferences have pledged their full support to Türkiye as it prepares to host COP31 in Antalya this November. Convened by the Zero Waste Foundation in Istanbul, a three-day preparatory retreat brought together senior advisers and key stakeholders to chart the road ahead for the summit.

Climate unity in a fractured world

Nigar Arpadarai, high-level climate champion of COP29 held in Baku, emphasized the importance of preserving climate diplomacy as a rare domain of international cooperation. "We live in a world marked by wars, conflicts and instability. Climate action is a unifying agenda, and we believe it is important to preserve that unity," she told Anadolu. Arpadarai confirmed that COP29 delivered a $300 billion climate finance agreement and operationalized carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. She expressed confidence that Türkiye's leadership can build on this momentum, adding: "Bringing the global climate community together in Antalya in November will create strong momentum."

From consensus-building to implementation

Ana Toni, CEO of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, stressed that the era of simply negotiating new agreements is giving way to an era of implementation. While COP30 secured consensus on 56 decisions, she acknowledged that divisions remain—particularly on the phase-out of fossil fuels. "We expect this issue to be discussed throughout the year, and it will ultimately be up to COP31 to decide how to steer the topic," Toni said. She commended Türkiye's preparatory process, noting that Ankara is advancing plans within a pragmatic framework and carefully selecting themes that reflect people's needs. "I am fully confident that Türkiye's leadership, together with Australia, will make COP31 highly successful," she added.

Zero waste and Türkiye's global contribution

Both leaders praised the efforts of the Zero Waste Foundation and its president, Samed Ağırbaş, who serves as COP31 high-level climate champion. Arpadarai highlighted that the zero-waste agenda, championed by First Lady Emine Erdoğan, has ascended from a national initiative to a global movement recognized by the UN General Assembly. She noted that the foundation's engagement with non-state actors and its clear vision will significantly strengthen Türkiye's COP31 presidency. Toni observed that Türkiye's hosting marks a pivotal moment for climate diplomacy, adding that recent COPs have proven there is no single "silver bullet" solution—but by accelerating action across oceans, electrification, zero waste and gender, the international community can move forward together.