Türkiye to announce six COP31 climate implementation pilots in New York

What happened

Murat Kurum, Türkiye’s Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Minister and COP31 President, met foreign journalists from 17 countries at the Blue Dialogue programme in Trabzon. The event focused on climate-resilient oceans and cities.

Kurum said Türkiye would establish an implementation mechanism under its COP31 agenda and identify six pilot countries in New York. According to the minister, the mechanism will prioritise projects that can deliver more results with lower funding, while combining project preparation, finance and on-the-ground delivery. Türkiye also plans to provide grant support for its development.

The programme concluded with the announcement of the 13-point Trabzon Ocean Action Call. The ministry also introduced a COP31 Marine Litter Platform initiative.

Why it matters

The proposed mechanism is aimed at a recurring barrier in climate investment: connecting investable projects with capital and technology. Kurum said governments, international organisations, academia, companies, financial institutions and civil society should work through the process together.

For project developers, lenders and technology providers, the stated focus is on prepared projects that can move into implementation. Kurum cited a wastewater-treatment project in Trabzon as an example of the approach, saying it was being prepared for financing.

He also said Türkiye had set a 2035 electrification target of 35%, presenting it as a means of reducing fossil-fuel use and supporting cleaner energy. The ministry did not provide further detail on the scope of that target in its statement.

Background

Kurum placed oceans at the centre of climate action, citing their role in absorbing about 29% of global carbon dioxide emissions. He said ocean and coastal issues face constraints in access to finance, project preparation and technology.

He called for greater support from the Loss and Damage Fund for Nepal following severe destruction in one of its cities. He also said climate-finance spending, including private-sector funding, stands at US$1.7 trillion, while US$7.5 trillion to US$9 trillion would be needed to meet targets.

What's next

Türkiye will announce the six pilot countries in New York, although the ministry did not specify a date. Kurum said COP31 in Antalya is intended to focus on delivery, with projects, funding arrangements and implementation tracked as concrete outcomes.

Further details are available in the ministry’s statement on the Trabzon Blue Dialogue.