Global energy summit opens in Türkiye, highlights $1.3 trillion transition gap

The international energy summit IAEE MECA 2025 has opened in the Turkish Mediterranean city of Antalya, convening global experts to tackle the pressing challenges of the energy transition. The conference, organized by the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) from December 4-6, focuses particularly on the Middle East and Central Asia regions. With Anadolu Agency as its global communications partner, the event underscores Türkiye's growing role as a pivotal hub for energy diplomacy and investment dialogue.

Focus on Financing and Regional Pathways

A central theme of the Antalya summit is the immense financing required for a global shift to sustainable energy. Gurkan Selcuk Kumbaroglu, chair of the organizing committee, highlighted a staggering annual financing need of approximately $1.3 trillion. "About $300 billion of this is committed by developed countries, but there's still a very serious financing need," Kumbaroglu told Anadolu. Special sessions are dedicated to small modular reactors, e-mobility, critical minerals, and region-specific transition strategies.

Türkiye's Central Role and COP31 Preparations

Kumbaroglu emphasized that the diverse international participation, with attendees from Brazil, China, Europe, and across the host regions, "shows the importance given to Türkiye in the field of energy." The summit also serves as a preparatory platform for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), which Türkiye is set to host in Antalya. This positions the current discussions as directly influential to future global climate policy frameworks.

Bringing Together Investment and Policy

The event has successfully bridged academia, the public sector, and global business leaders. Kumbaroglu noted the strong presence of international investors and private sector executives, stating they "show their desire to invest in Türkiye." By integrating workshops on financing mechanisms and sustainability life cycles, the IAEE MECA 2025 conference aims to translate dialogue into actionable investment and policy for a sustainable energy future.