Türkiye’s COP31 president discusses preparations with Australia and UN climate chief

What happened

Murat Kurum, Türkiye’s environment, urbanisation and climate change minister and COP31 president, held an online meeting with Chris Bowen, Australia’s climate change and energy minister, and Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

According to Türkiye’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, the discussion addressed planning for COP31 and the conference’s Action Agenda.

Türkiye is set to host and chair the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN climate convention in Antalya. The ministry’s notice identifies the meeting as part of the country’s preparations for that role.

In a social-media statement cited by the ministry, Kurum said he wanted parties to engage closely and for differing perspectives to contribute to COP31 outputs. He also expressed an intention for the conference to produce tangible outcomes, strong decisions and international cooperation with practical effects.

Why it matters

The meeting signals continuing engagement between the incoming COP31 host, Australia and the UN climate secretariat as work on the conference develops. Its focus on both preparation and the Action Agenda indicates that the agenda is being considered alongside the wider conference process.

However, the ministry’s announcement does not describe any agreed outcomes from the call. It does not set out new national commitments, financing arrangements, sector-specific initiatives or requirements for companies. It also provides no details on the content, governance or timetable of the Action Agenda.

For sustainability teams, the immediate implication is to follow official COP31 announcements rather than infer policy changes from this meeting. Businesses with operations, supply chains or policy interests in Türkiye may wish to track subsequent information on the conference programme and any initiatives associated with the Action Agenda.

What to watch next

No date for COP31, schedule for further discussions or timeline for agenda development was included in the ministry’s publication. Further preparatory engagement with participating parties is expected, based on Kurum’s statement.

Readers should watch for formal conference information from Türkiye and the UN climate convention, including details of the agenda, participation arrangements and any decisions or initiatives that emerge during preparations.