Speaking in Berlin at the opening of the 2026 Petersberg Climate Dialogue, the COP31 President-Designate set out the lessons of the global energy crisis and the priorities for the road to Antalya.
COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum told world leaders in Berlin on Tuesday that the current energy crisis has shown us that "fossil fuels do not guarantee energy supply security."
Opening the annual Petersberg Climate Dialogue, Mr. Kurum, Türkiye's Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, noted that "investing in alternative energy sources, in particular, to support energy diversity means stability, resilience and clean development. This is what we must all pursue."
At the first major meeting of climate ministers in 2026, Mr. Kurum also reflected on the state of global cooperation. "Although multilateralism has declined, it has not disappeared completely. Many countries still want shared solutions," he said, adding that COP is the "best place to bring everyone around the same table".
Discussing his plan for the upcoming UN climate summit in Antalya this November, Mr. Kurum said "Türkiye's main goal for climate diplomacy this year is to make COP work for ordinary people facing an acute energy crisis. We must defend the foundations of international cooperation, ensure past promises are kept, and speed up the shift to a solutions-oriented approach."
Mr. Kurum then committed to defend the COP process and ensure that "countries fulfil the fundamental requirements of the COP." He listed specific obligations for countries to fulfil, including submitting their plans to cut emissions, their transparency reports, and their responsibilities to provide climate finance.
He also highlighted the need to "shift to a concrete and solutions-oriented implementation mode." He highlighted the COP31 Presidency's nine thematic priorities, covering clean energy, zero-waste, and mechanisms to deliver concrete results. This follows the COP31 Presidency's first open letter, which set out the priorities and logistical information for the upcoming summit.
COP31 will be hosted through a new model of cooperation between Türkiye and Australia. Mr. Kurum said that Türkiye would work closely with Australia to achieve the two countries' "common vision for success".
