Young people to play active role at UN climate change conference in Türkiye this fall

Young people will be active participants in the process leading to this fall’s COP31 UN climate change conference in Türkiye, with serious work underway alongside universities and civil society organizations to ensure their full involvement, according to a Turkish academic.

Speaking to Anadolu, Abdulmenaf Turan, who researches urbanization and environmental problems at Ankara University in the Turkish capital, assessed the trajectory of climate diplomacy at COP31, to be held in Antalya, southern Türkiye in November, and the place of the zero waste model in international negotiations.

Turan said Türkiye has rapidly integrated into international climate agreements and policy frameworks through its Green Revolution and 2053 net-zero emissions target, and that the negotiations held along the way made Türkiye's presidency of this year’s climate change conference possible. He said the Zero Waste Movement has been among the foremost factors in bringing Türkiye to this point.

"Türkiye has come a long way in climate diplomacy, and one of the internationally recognized achievements along that path is the Zero Waste Project developed by (Turkish first lady) Emine Erdogan," he said.

Climate crisis-driven disasters are a global problem

Turan said Türkiye's priorities and those of the wider world largely converge on the key issues to be addressed at the conference. He said food security, disasters driven by the energy and climate crisis, and the strengthening of financial mechanisms for a just transition are challenges shared by the entire world. Developed countries are demanding that transition funds be spent appropriately, while developing countries want those mechanisms to be delivered consistently, swiftly, and equitably, he explained.

"Zero waste is also a candidate to become one of these overarching policies. I believe Türkiye will bring this to the agenda as well," he added.

Turan stressed that the zero waste model could serve as a lever between developing and developed nations.

"Türkiye has always stood by the oppressed peoples of the world. Through this model, we can bring issues such as Gaza, hungry children in Africa, or conflicts anywhere in the world into these discussions under the vision that a more just world is possible," he said.

'Türkiye has gained serious potential in building resilient cities'

Turan underlined that housing projects across virtually every region of Türkiye are being rebuilt with environment- and climate-friendly technologies.

"Türkiye has gained serious potential in building resilient cities, achieving a high level of success both in disaster response and pre-disaster measures. We are seeing the implementation of a vision that renews worn-out structures through urban transformation projects while rebuilding the housing stock with environmentally friendly, technologically equipped social housing.

“I believe Türkiye can offer an experience that could be replicated in other countries. Resilient urbanism is not only about renewing housing — it is also about renewing infrastructure," he said.​​​​​​​

Climate change conference in Türkiye will be the 'youth's COP'

Turan said the effects of climate change are being felt through agricultural frost, forest fires, and floods, and said all the processes underway are beginning to generate public awareness, with the Zero Waste Project making a significant contribution to that awareness.

He said the COP summit Türkiye will host has been described as the "youth's COP."

"Serious work is being carried out with universities and civil society organizations to ensure that young people are active participants in this process in every sense, and youth and education have been designated as one of the priority areas.

“You will gradually see this being achieved. We will also have the opportunity to witness efforts to raise entrepreneurial young people, and to see these efforts brought to life through concrete projects."