The key facts

  • COP31 will be held in Antalya on November 9–20, 2026; Turkey holds the conference presidency, Australia the negotiations presidency.
  • Priorities: electrification, clean energy transition, green industrialization, circular economy, climate-resilient cities, climate finance.
  • Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar: the goal is 120 GW of renewable capacity by 2035, with more ambitious targets for 2040 being prepared.

Preparations for the summit in Antalya

Turkey is preparing to host the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) in Antalya from November 9 to 20, 2026. According to the Anadolu agency, the country expects to strengthen its role in energy and climate diplomacy, turn global climate goals into concrete actions, and harness the potential of renewable energy through international partnerships. Turkey will assume the COP31 presidency and lead the Action Agenda, while Australia will serve as the negotiations president. Ankara's approach to the summit is aimed at turning existing climate commitments into achievable and measurable results through dialogue, consensus, and action.

Agenda priorities

The priority areas named are electrification, the transition to clean energy, green industrialization, the circular economy, climate-resilient cities, and climate finance. The COP31 presidency announced initiatives to increase the share of electricity in global final energy consumption to 35% by 2035, reduce the energy intensity of buildings by at least 25%, and halve the rate of growth of global waste generation. A separate emphasis is turning climate commitments into investment-attractive, 'bankable' projects.

Energy potential and geography

Turkey's solar and wind potential, according to Anadolu, creates a foundation for partnerships that may emerge from COP31. Expanding renewable energy capacity, strengthening power grids, and accelerating electrification are among the priorities of the country's energy transition. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced that Turkey aims to increase installed renewable energy capacity to 120 gigawatts by 2035; work is underway on more ambitious targets for 2040. The country's location at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, the agency notes, makes it possible to connect energy sources with consumer markets and develop regional cooperation in electricity interconnectors, renewable energy investments, energy efficiency, and low-carbon industry.

Expert assessments

Murat Dilek, president of the Global Energy Association, commented to Anadolu that expanding Turkey's manufacturing capacity for renewable energy equipment, especially wind turbines and solar panels, opens up significant opportunities for green industrialization and for strengthening the country's role in energy and climate diplomacy. According to him, growth in domestic production will support renewable energy investments, and the strategic position between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia will allow Turkey to play a larger role in regional supply chains and increase its competitiveness in the global clean energy market. 'Turkey's diplomatic success in this process will be measured not only by establishing dialogue between countries, but also by turning the goals defined in Antalya into concrete partnerships and implementable projects,' Dilek said. He added that to turn potential into sustainable results, Turkey needs to fulfill its national climate goals, accelerate investments in clean energy, and facilitate access to climate finance, as well as build up domestic production and technological capabilities, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen international partnerships.