COP31 in Türkiye : Political challenges & business opportunities

November 6, 2026

COP31 in Türkiye : Political challenges & business opportunities

From 9 to 20 November 2026, Türkiye will host the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya. The event will bring together political leaders, international institutions, scientists, businesses and civil society organisations to accelerate climate action and the implementation of environmental commitments.

Following COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in 2025, COP31 comes at a time when climate goals must increasingly translate into action: financing the energy transition, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change and transforming industrial systems.

For Türkiye, the conference also provides an opportunity to showcase its environmental policies, particularly the Zero Waste (Sıfır Atık) initiative launched in 2017 under the leadership of Emine Erdoğan, which has since gained recognition at United Nations level.

Beyond diplomacy, COP31 highlights economic opportunities in clean energy, environmental technologies, the circular economy and low-carbon industry. For French and European businesses, these developments warrant a closer look at the markets and potential partnerships in Türkiye.

1. What is COP, and why does it matter?

COP stands for Conference of the Parties, the principal decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), adopted in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Held annually since 1995, COP meetings bring the Parties together to negotiate and coordinate the international response to climate change.

COP3 – Kyoto, 1997: adoption of the Kyoto Protocol and binding targets for certain industrialised countries.
COP21 – Paris, 2015: adoption of the Paris Agreement, with the goal of keeping temperature increases well below 2°C while pursuing efforts to limit them to 1.5°C.
COP28 – Dubai, 2023: the first global stocktake under the Paris Agreement and a call to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.
COP29 – Baku, 2024: a new collective climate finance goal for developing countries.
COP30 – Belém, 2025: continued negotiations on finance, adaptation and implementation of commitments.

COP31 aims to build on these negotiations, placing particular emphasis on the means of implementation: finance, technology deployment, international cooperation and support for economic transformation.

Not every COP decision automatically creates obligations directly applicable to companies. Its effect depends on its legal status and how it is reflected in national policies or regulations.

2. COP31 in Antalya: Organisation, Programme and Participants

COP31 will take place in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026, primarily at the ANFAŞ Antalya Expo Center. The Mediterranean region itself illustrates several climate challenges, including drought, pressure on water resources, wildfires and threats to ecosystems.

A governance arrangement involving Türkiye and Australia

Türkiye will hold the conference presidency, led by Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. Australia, represented by Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, will chair the negotiations. The arrangement also includes a cooperation component with Pacific countries.

Main thematic days

Date	Announced theme / key event
9 November	Agriculture, food security and health
10 November	Energy, transport and energy efficiency
11 November	Zero waste, circular economy and methane; Leaders' Summit
12 November	Resilient cities, buildings and infrastructure; Leaders' Summit
13 November	Climate finance, trade and carbon markets
14 November	Youth, education and green skills
15 November	Social and cultural activities and programmes
16 November	Science, industry, technology and innovation
17 November	Oceans, biodiversity, forests and ecosystems
18 November	Human development, employment and a just transition
19 November	Implementation, projects and access to finance
20 November	Final negotiations and scheduled closing

The Heads of State and Government Summit is scheduled for 11–12 November 2026. The programme may change during the conference; the official schedule remains the authoritative source for confirmed sessions and speakers.

Key figures and institutions

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: President of the Republic of Türkiye, announced for the opening of the Leaders' Summit.
Murat Kurum: COP31 President-Designate and Türkiye's Environment Minister.
Chris Bowen: Australian minister and President of the COP31 negotiations.
António Guterres: United Nations Secretary-General, announced as a participant in the Leaders' Summit.
Simon Stiell: Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC.
Emine Erdoğan: Honorary President of the Sıfır Atık Foundation and a prominent advocate for the Zero Waste agenda internationally; events are scheduled under her patronage.
Samed Ağırbaş: President of the Sıfır Atık Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion.

COP31 will also welcome delegations from the Parties, UN agencies, financial institutions, development banks, scientists, non-governmental organisations and businesses. The Blue Zone will host official negotiations and accredited participants, while the Green Zone will showcase initiatives, innovations and civil society actors.

The mention of an individual or institution does not guarantee their physical attendance at every session. Individual participation should be assessed against official announcements and the latest programme.

3. Türkiye's Journey in International Climate Negotiations

2004 — Türkiye becomes a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

2021 — Ratification of the Paris Agreement and a stated ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2053.

2024 — Presentation of a long-term climate strategy at COP29.

2025 — Adoption of Climate Law No. 7552, which provides, among other things, a legislative basis for a national emissions trading system.

2025 — Submission of a second nationally determined contribution (NDC), covering energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and waste, among other sectors.

2026 — COP31 presidency and hosting of the conference in Antalya.

In its second NDC, Türkiye projects emissions of 643 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2035, representing a reduction of 466 million tonnes compared with its projected baseline scenario. This reduction is measured against a business-as-usual projection, not against today's observed emissions.

Türkiye's climate trajectory also relies on expanding renewable capacity, modernising industry and implementing resource and waste management initiatives.

4. Sıfır Atık: The Zero Waste Initiative Championed by Emine Erdoğan

Launched in 2017 at the initiative of Emine Erdoğan, wife of the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Sıfır Atık ("Zero Waste") has become one of the country's flagship environmental initiatives. Initially rolled out across public administrations, it has since expanded to local authorities, educational establishments, businesses and other institutions.

The programme aims to prevent waste generation, improve separation at source, expand recycling, promote reuse and minimise resource waste throughout product life cycles.

Recognition at United Nations level

In December 2022, at Türkiye's initiative and with the support of 105 other countries, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 30 March as the International Day of Zero Waste. Its first observance, in March 2023, prompted international engagement praised by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Emine Erdoğan also chairs the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste, which promotes best practices and mobilises public- and private-sector stakeholders.

Results reported by the Turkish authorities

Indicator	Reported result / target
Waste recovered since 2017	90 million tonnes
Estimated economic contribution	TRY 365 billion
National recovery rate	13% in 2017; 37% in 2025
2035 target	60% recovery
2053 target	70% recovery

These figures are drawn from statements issued by the Turkish authorities in March 2026. They should be understood as officially reported results, rather than independently audited estimates.

A central place in the COP31 programme

The programme includes a high-level event on 11 November under Emine Erdoğan's patronage, focusing on zero waste, the circular economy and methane reduction. Another event announced for 12 November will address the expansion of clean cooking solutions across Africa by 2034.

The Sıfır Atık Foundation, of which Emine Erdoğan is Honorary President, is helping mobilise stakeholders around COP31. By highlighting the initiative, Türkiye aims to showcase an approach combining environmental policy, waste prevention, resource efficiency and international cooperation.

For businesses, this momentum points to potential demand for sorting equipment, recycling, recovery of industrial and organic waste, ecodesign and technologies that reduce raw-material losses.

5. The Key Issues on the COP31 Agenda

Discussions in Antalya will cover emissions mitigation, adaptation to climate risks and the mobilisation of technical and financial resources. Analysis published by the Sıfır Atık Foundation highlights interrelated priorities: energy, industry, agriculture, water, biodiversity and the circular economy. These are topics for discussion and areas of ongoing national policy, not decisions already taken at COP31.

Energy transition: expanding renewable capacity and modernising the power system

Electricity generation is a key lever in Türkiye's decarbonisation. The national roadmap published in October 2024 targets a combined 120 GW of wind and solar capacity by 2035, compared with approximately 31 GW when the target was announced. The International Energy Agency estimates that achieving this expansion will require USD 80 billion. This is a national investment pathway, not funding announced as part of COP31.

The challenge goes beyond building new power plants. It includes strengthening the transmission grid, developing interconnections and storage solutions, balancing intermittent generation and improving grid connection procedures. The roadmap also envisages additional electricity transmission infrastructure, including high-voltage direct-current links.

Türkiye's Second National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for 2024–2030 envisages USD 20.2 billion of investment and cumulative primary energy savings of 37.1 million tonnes of oil equivalent, with an estimated 16% reduction in primary energy consumption over the period. Its targets cover buildings, industry, transport, agriculture and the digitalisation of energy systems.

The Sıfır Atık Foundation also draws attention to a less visible issue: the material footprint of renewable energy technologies. The design, maintenance, reuse and recycling of solar panels, batteries and wind turbine components must form part of a circular-economy approach. For businesses, this creates opportunities for cooperation ranging from power electronics to end-of-life equipment management.

Delivering this pathway remains dependent on access to finance, grid expansion and policy choices regarding the energy mix. The COP31 portal also points to debates over the absence of a detailed coal phase-out timetable and the role of nuclear energy.

Low-carbon industry: process modernisation and exporters' competitiveness

Cement, steel, metalworking, chemicals and other energy-intensive industries face pressure to reduce both direct and indirect emissions. Potential solutions include waste-heat recovery, process electrification, furnace upgrades, automation, emissions monitoring and low-carbon energy procurement strategies.

The stakes are commercial as well as environmental. Since 1 January 2026, the European Union has applied the definitive regime of its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to certain product categories. Although CBAM is an EU measure rather than a COP31 decision, it increases demand for emissions data and strengthens the economic incentives for Turkish exporters to decarbonise.

Against this backdrop, international discussions on carbon markets, emissions pricing, transparency rules and technology financing will be closely watched. In parallel, implementation of Türkiye's Climate Law and its planned national emissions trading system remains a domestic policy priority.

Agriculture and food security: producing more efficiently while cutting losses

Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and extreme weather put agricultural output at risk, affecting yields and supply continuity. The Sıfır Atık Foundation highlights regenerative farming, soil health, digital decision-support tools and supply chains better adapted to climate constraints.

Reducing food loss and waste is a cross-cutting priority. Cutting losses during harvesting, storage, transport and distribution saves water, energy and other inputs at the same time. Recovering value from biowaste can also help reduce methane emissions, provided that appropriate technologies and operating conditions are in place.

For agrifood businesses, potential applications include sensors, precision agriculture, refrigeration and cold-chain logistics, packaging, traceability and equipment for valorising production by-products. The scale of the commercial opportunity will depend on investment by farms, food processors and local authorities.

Water: resource efficiency, reuse and river-basin governance

Water management is a priority for Türkiye's agricultural sector, cities and industrial facilities. The country faces significant water stress, with water availability declining under the combined pressures of population growth, urbanisation and climate change. In 2024, available water resources amounted to just 1,308 m³ per person per year, below the 1,700 m³ threshold associated with water stress under the Falkenmark indicator. Pressure is especially acute in agriculture, which accounts for 77% of the country's total water consumption, or around 44 billion m³ annually. This reinforces the need for sustainable water management, modernised irrigation systems and investment in water infrastructure.

The COP31 portal identifies three complementary priorities: more efficient water use; circular water management through wastewater treatment and reuse; and governance based on river-basin planning and reliable data.

These priorities point to demand for consumption monitoring, leak detection, precision irrigation, network upgrades, water treatment and industrial effluent recycling. Such investment supports both adaptation to drought and reduced pressure on natural resources.

Forests, biodiversity and territorial resilience

Protecting forests and ecosystems is important both for carbon storage and for strengthening communities' and landscapes' resilience to climate events. COP31 discussions may address habitat restoration, nature-based solutions and conservation financing. The Sıfır Atık Foundation's portal emphasises that forest protection must also respect the rights and livelihoods of affected communities.

Beyond forests, wetlands, coastal areas, marine environments and ecological corridors play essential roles in biodiversity and resilience. In Türkiye, wildfire, drought and flood risks underscore the value of early-warning systems, risk mapping, sensor-based monitoring and ecological engineering.

Zero waste, pollution and the circular economy

Building on the Sıfır Atık initiative championed by Emine Erdoğan, the conference is expected to broaden the conversation beyond waste collection to include prevention at source, ecodesign, reuse, material recycling, industrial waste management and plastic pollution reduction. The Foundation also emphasises performance indicators, cooperation between local authorities and businesses, and operational standards.

This approach connects climate policy, resource management and biodiversity protection. It may generate interest in sorting technologies, advanced recycling, organic waste recovery and raw-material efficiency, but does not in itself amount to an announcement of new public tenders.

Climate finance, innovation and a just transition

Transforming energy, agricultural and urban infrastructure will require substantial capital. Discussions will cover public and private financing mechanisms, concessional finance, green bonds, technology transfer and support for vulnerable communities. The aim is to make solutions technically available, financially viable and scalable.

A just transition must take account of employment, skills, household costs and regional impacts. Partnerships among governments, businesses, researchers, local authorities and civil society will be critical to translating these goals into practical projects.

6. What Could COP31 Mean for the World and Türkiye?

Globally: finance, implementation and cooperation

At the global level, the negotiations could influence the mobilisation of funding for mitigation and adaptation, transparency around national commitments, technology cooperation, carbon markets and the integration of biodiversity, agriculture and resource management into climate action. Their impact will depend on the ambition of the agreed texts, the resources committed and the extent to which countries implement them through domestic policy.

For Türkiye: potential impacts across six key areas

Energy and security of supply. International commitments favouring renewables, energy efficiency and carbon pricing could reinforce national policies to transform the electricity mix. Potential medium- and long-term benefits include more diversified supply and reduced dependence on certain energy imports, provided the necessary investments are delivered.

Industry and foreign trade. Carbon pricing, emissions traceability and rising customer expectations could increase modernisation needs in exposed industries. Upfront costs may be substantial; potential benefits include improved competitiveness, resource efficiency and continued access to export markets.

Project finance. New international agreements or partnerships could improve financing conditions for projects addressing drought, flooding, wildfires and urban climate risks. Their implementation will depend on eligibility criteria, project structuring and effective access to funding.

Agriculture and water. Greater emphasis on food security and adaptation could support irrigation infrastructure upgrades, climate-resilient farming, food loss reduction and water reuse.

Circular economy and waste management. Stronger cooperation frameworks and environmental policies could encourage investment in recycling equipment, organic and industrial waste recovery, material efficiency and new public procurement practices. The national Sıfır Atık initiative already gives these issues visibility.

Cities and infrastructure. Adaptation and emissions-reduction priorities may accelerate projects involving building energy efficiency, clean mobility, water treatment, waste management and risk monitoring.

Finally, the COP31 presidency could raise Türkiye's diplomatic profile and strengthen its ability to facilitate dialogue among European partners, developing countries and states in its wider region. Such benefits are qualitative and cannot be quantified ahead of the event.

7. Opportunities for French and International Businesses

Hosting COP31 gives Türkiye a platform to showcase its transition policies and connect with investors, development banks, industrial companies and technology suppliers. Economic benefits are neither automatic nor guaranteed: they depend on bankable projects, solvent demand and the implementation of public policy. For French and European businesses, several routes to market merit consideration.

High-potential sectors in the environmental transition

Sector	Potential applications and demand
Renewable energy	Solar PV, wind power, storage, grids and power conversion
Energy efficiency	Waste-heat recovery, instrumentation, automation and process optimisation
Waste and the circular economy	Sorting, recycling, material or energy recovery, organic waste treatment
Water and sustainable agriculture	Smart irrigation, treatment, reuse and network monitoring
Buildings and infrastructure	Energy performance, sustainable mobility, smart grids and resilience
Monitoring and compliance	Emissions measurement, data management, carbon traceability and software

Business development opportunities for French and international companies

Exporting equipment and technologies: meeting demand for upgrades to industrial facilities and environmental infrastructure.
Commercial and industrial partnerships: working with Turkish manufacturers, system integrators, distributors and end customers.
Investment and local establishment: considering subsidiaries, joint ventures or production facilities to strengthen a local market presence.
Green finance: identifying projects and climate finance mechanisms that could help support investment.
Innovation and technology transfer: collaborating with Turkish manufacturers, universities, research centres and technology companies.

To turn these trends into commercial opportunities, companies need to assess real demand, identify decision-makers and customers, qualify potential partners, check standards and tenders, understand price constraints and assess local financing capacity. This is where Advantis Conseils Türkiye's hands-on support can make a difference.

8. How Advantis Conseils Türkiye Can Support Businesses

Since 2003, Advantis Conseils Türkiye has supported international companies entering the Turkish market, developing B2B sales, building industrial partnerships, sourcing suppliers and establishing local operations.

As the energy transition, decarbonisation and the circular economy reshape business priorities, Advantis supports companies from opportunity assessment through to practical implementation in Türkiye.