What happened
Türkiye opened the 582,000 m² Green Zone at COP31 in Antalya. Murat Kurum, the country’s Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Minister and COP31 President, led the opening on the first day of the conference.
The overall COP31 venue covers 1.1 million m². It comprises a 527,000 m² Blue Zone, designated as the official negotiation area under United Nations authority, and the Green Zone, which is organised by the host country under UN guidance.
Kurum said 203 institutions would run sessions in the Green Zone. Organisers are targeting roughly 100,000 visitors a day. The area will include academic, youth, children’s, science and practical activities, as well as displays related to culture and local production.
The programme also includes 207 technology companies and climate start-ups working on clean energy, storage, materials and digital climate solutions. The ministry said these ventures will have opportunities to meet investors.
Why it matters
The Green Zone creates a public-facing platform alongside the formal COP31 talks, allowing businesses, universities, civil society and local participants to present climate-related work. For technology firms and start-ups, the investor meetings offer a route to showcase solutions in energy, materials and digital applications.
For Türkiye, the venue is also intended to connect policy discussions in the Blue Zone with practical projects and participation beyond official delegations. Visitors will be able to see waste sorting, composting and deposit-return-system applications under the country’s Zero Waste programme.
Background
The Green Zone will feature an Anka Kuşu Pavilion focused on experience from reconstruction in the earthquake region, including material reuse and engineering approaches. A COPArt area is expected to show more than 1,000 artworks. The site will also contain a Gaza tent and an exhibition on Gaza and Palestine at the adjacent conference centre.
What's next
Sessions, exhibitions and visitor activities will take place during COP31 in Antalya. Organisers said thousands of volunteers and climate ambassadors are supporting operations after receiving 45,000 applications from 154 countries.
