What happened
Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency has published The Yörüks-Yörükler, a documentary focused on Sarıkeçili Yörük communities living in the Taurus Mountains in Antalya province. The release comes as Türkiye prepares to host COP31, which the environment ministry describes as the country’s first time hosting the summit.
According to the ministry, the production was filmed over 45 days. It portrays Yörük life across a geographic journey extending from Central Asia to the Balkans, with stories from families whose livelihoods are closely connected to mountains, water, forests and livestock.
The documentary includes a household with six children, as well as the account of a herder who finds an injured young goat and carries it back to shelter. Another contributor describes the importance of forests and water to daily life. The final part moves to North Macedonia, where Yörük families, including a farming household, discuss their work and history.
The COP31 Presidency published the film through its official accounts. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change announcement provides the accompanying account of the release.
Why it matters
The film places community experience and connections to natural systems within Türkiye’s public communications ahead of COP31. Rather than announcing a policy measure, it uses the experiences of the Sarıkeçili Yörüks to present a message about human dependence on nature.
Accounts in the documentary highlight mobile living, limited possessions and careful use of resources as practical features of Yörük life. Contributors also describe the significance of water, woodland and seasonal conditions. These perspectives give the COP31 communication a local context alongside its international climate focus.
For organisations following Türkiye’s summit preparations, the release indicates that the presidency is drawing on cultural and community narratives in its outreach. The ministry announcement does not introduce climate targets, regulatory requirements, funding programmes or a COP31 timetable.
What to do next
Readers assessing Türkiye’s COP31 communications can view the documentary and compare its community-led framing with subsequent presidency announcements. The ministry has not set out further publication dates in the release.
