What happened
Murat Kurum, Türkiye’s COP31 president and environment minister, visited Tuvalu as pre-COP meetings continue ahead of the UN climate conference in Antalya. He travelled with representatives from participating countries and met scientists and local people, according to Türkiye’s environment ministry.
The delegation inspected the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project. Officials presented reclaimed land intended to help counter sea-level rise, alongside solar-energy initiatives. The ministry said the visit was part of preparations taking place in Fiji and Tuvalu before COP31.
The immediate relevance for organisations following the summit is that ocean impacts, coastal resilience and the needs of highly exposed island states are being brought into the preparatory process. Oceans and seas are one of 10 priority areas in the COP31 Action Agenda.
Why it matters
Tuvalu illustrates the scale of climate risk faced by low-lying island countries. The Pacific state comprises nine coral islands and has a population of about 10,000. Scientists cited by the ministry project that 95% of its land could be submerged by 2100.
The ministry also noted that loss of territory could put Tuvalu’s statehood at risk. In November 2023, Tuvalu concluded the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union agreement with Australia. The arrangement permits 280 Tuvalu citizens each year to relocate to Australia for permanent residence, study and employment.
Türkiye is hosting COP31 for the Western European and Others Group, while Australia is responsible for the conference’s negotiation presidency. The Pacific pre-COP sessions were convened at Australia’s request, the ministry said.
What to watch before Antalya
Pre-COP forums are designed to prepare the main COP meeting and narrow differences among countries. Readers should watch how priorities raised by Pacific island states are reflected in the agenda and subsequent negotiating positions for Antalya, particularly on oceans, adaptation and exposure to sea-level rise.
