Türkiye to push for fair climate finance at COP31, minister says

Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum announced Tuesday that Türkiye will push for climate finance to flow directly to affected geographies and developing nations during COP31, vowing to serve as an “honest intermediary and fair referee.” Speaking at a SETA think tank event in Ankara, Kurum stressed that humanity’s core problem is not merely carbon emissions but the ongoing struggle between humankind and nature.

Water as Strategic Resource

Kurum noted that Turkish diplomacy has evolved from a mere observer at global climate platforms to an active and influential actor under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership. He warned that water has become a strategic resource and even a factor in conflict, adding that states which manage water effectively and produce energy without harming nature will shape the future. “Conflicts in our region trigger energy crises, and asymmetric conflicts increase instability in oil markets,” he said. “This shows that instability and climate change constitute an ecological survival issue.”

Rejecting Unfair Burden

Kurum highlighted the Zero Waste initiative, a global brand under First Lady Emine Erdoğan’s auspices, as an effort to protect the “law of nature” by transforming waste into energy and raw material. “The global financial system places the burden not on those who pollute, but on those who are polluted. We fundamentally reject this,” he said. “Türkiye will fight at COP31 to ensure that climate finance reaches directly to affected geographies and developing countries, and we commit to acting as an honest intermediary and fair referee.”