Türkiye opens Women’s Pavilion in COP31 Blue Zone in Antalya

What happened

Türkiye has opened its Women’s Pavilion in the Blue Zone of COP31 in Antalya. The opening was led by Fatma Varank, COP31 chief executive and deputy minister at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change.

Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality contributed to the pavilion, which is intended to bring women’s leadership in climate diplomacy and the strength of local production before an international audience. The municipality also hosted the opening ceremony.

The programme will continue until 20 November and includes panel sessions, talks and practical workshops. Women specialists will give presentations for participants from Türkiye and other countries.

Why it matters

The pavilion gives climate-related social issues a dedicated space within the COP31 Blue Zone. Its agenda places women’s role in climate action alongside discussions of local production, connecting these themes with the wider conference programme.

Scheduled subjects include women’s leadership, cities designed to withstand climate change, and access to health and food. Sessions will also examine the social effects of the climate crisis, according to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change.

For delegates and organisations working on climate action, the programme offers a defined venue for following how these issues are presented by specialist women speakers in Türkiye’s COP31 programme.

Programme and setting

Alongside the sessions, the pavilion displays traditional carpets from Gaziantep, a selected group of paintings and goods made through women’s craftwork. The displays are intended to present Türkiye’s cultural heritage and the value of women’s labour to visitors.

The pavilion is part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s 31st Conference of the Parties, hosted by Türkiye in Antalya. The Blue Zone is the conference area in which the venue is operating.

What to watch next

Events are due to run through 20 November. The remaining programme will cover the announced themes through presentations, conversations and workshop formats, with national and international participants taking part.

Details of the opening and planned subjects were published by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change.