COP31 Advisory Board holds first meeting as Türkiye pushes ‘action over rhetoric’

The Advisory Board for the upcoming COP31 UN climate change conference held its first online meeting on Tuesday, with Türkiye outlining its vision for the summit to focus on concrete action and implementation rather than rhetoric.

Türkiye’s Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum, who is also serving as COP31 president, presented the conference’s priorities, including a 10-point COP31 Action Agenda and six global implementation goals.

Kurum also briefed board members on diplomatic efforts undertaken by the COP31 Presidency so far, saying negotiations would continue ahead of the conference in November with the aim of ensuring that no country or community is left behind.

“Our Advisory Board will be one of our most important stakeholders throughout the COP31 process,” Kurum said in a post on Türkiye’s social media platform NSosyal.

He said experts from around the world are expected to participate in the conference and that the board discussed preparations, priorities and goals for COP31.

“We will not leave COP31 as merely a conference; through common wisdom, dialogue, consensus and action, we will make it a key to the global fight against climate change,” Kurum said.

According to the Turkish Environment Ministry, the Advisory Board was established as part of preparations for COP31 and brings together senior officials and climate experts from around the world.

Türkiye will host COP31 in the southern Mediterranean city of Antalya from November 9 to 20.