Turkish president says political commitment at COP31 encouraging for efforts under Paris Agreement

'COP31 designed as an implementation-focused COP' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that the political commitment shown at the COP31 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya was a positive sign for advancing the goals of the Paris Agreement, urging sustained determination to keep the 1.5C target within reach. "The political commitment demonstrated in Antalya is encouraging for the work to be carried out under the Paris Agreement. Let us maintain this determination, continue our efforts toward implementation and make the 1.5-degree target achievable," he said in a written statement.

Erdogan expressed his "deepest gratitude" to all heads of state and government who attended the summit, stressing that their gathering and direct messages carried particular significance at a time of major international challenges. He said their participation demonstrated a political commitment to climate action and confidence that the challenges facing the world could be overcome through cooperation. The Turkish president also thanked all parties, international organizations, multilateral development banks and stakeholders for their active contributions, saying their constructive engagement had provided strong encouragement for COP31 proceedings.

Noting that the Paris Agreement had entered its second decade, Erdogan said discussions at the summit had reaffirmed that tackling climate change was both a scientific and moral imperative. "Our responsibility extends to all people whose lives are already being affected, to future generations and to the world on which both our societies and economies depend," he said. Erdogan said he was encouraged by the broad common ground that had emerged during the discussions, adding that countries had arrived in Antalya with different experiences, priorities and national circumstances but that these differences had not prevented them from finding common ground.

He said this had established a valuable foundation for dialogue and cooperation throughout and beyond COP31. - Electrification, green industrialization among priorities Erdogan said the reflection of this common ground in the priorities of the COP31 Action Agenda was particularly encouraging. He noted that high-level events held during the summit had enabled extensive discussions on electrification, implementation, green industrialization, resilience, zero waste and climate finance.

These events also highlighted the priorities of Africa, the Pacific and other regions, underscoring the importance of advancing climate action in ways that respond to development needs and national circumstances, he said. Referring to recent natural disasters, the loss of life and the destruction of livelihoods, Erdogan said these developments demonstrated the humanitarian urgency of climate efforts. He expressed solidarity with affected communities and those supporting their recovery, emphasizing the need to strengthen early warning systems, resilience and adaptation measures, particularly for those most exposed to climate risks.

"These issues must remain at the center of our efforts as we seize the opportunities offered by electrification, green industrialization and sustainable development," he said. - 'COP31 designed as an implementation-focused COP' Erdogan said the summit had also highlighted the importance of ensuring access to finance for those most in need, noting that the Climate Implementation Bridge had received strong support. He said the mechanism aimed to translate existing commitments into concrete outcomes through closer cooperation among countries, financial institutions and stakeholders while supporting country-led action on adaptation, resilience and sustainable development.

"COP31 was designed as an implementation-focused COP," Erdogan said, welcoming support for the "35x35 Global Electrification Pledge." He said many leaders had highlighted the opportunities offered by electrification during the summit and that numerous countries had already joined the initiative. Expanding electrification through approaches tailored to countries' own needs and priorities could contribute to energy security and development, he added.

Erdogan said Türkiye's COP31 presidency had sought to give greater political prominence to implementation and bring governments and stakeholders together around practical solutions. He expressed hope that the presidency's lasting contribution would be to establish closer cooperation between those setting national priorities and those helping deliver them as progress continued on implementing the Paris Agreement. Türkiye-Australia partnership reflects confidence in multilateralism Erdogan said the partnership between Türkiye and Australia reflected confidence in multilateralism.

He said the model brought together geographically distant countries facing different circumstances and challenges, demonstrating the importance of cooperation toward a common purpose. He also welcomed the partnership and the participation of Pacific Island countries in the COP31 process, particularly Tuvalu and Fiji, which hosted the pre-COP meetings. Sustainable implementation, Erdogan said, would require contributions from all segments of society.

While governments provided direction through national priorities and policies, businesses, financial institutions, local administrations and civil society could contribute the resources, expertise and experience needed to translate these priorities into action, he said. He welcomed their engagement and the cooperation opportunities offered by the Action Agenda to support country-led efforts. Erdogan also urged all parties to maintain the constructive spirit of the Leaders' Summit in the ongoing negotiations, reiterating that the political commitment demonstrated in Antalya offered encouragement for work under the Paris Agreement.