Former COP presidents issue Antalya statement backing Türkiye’s COP31 presidency

Former chairs of UN climate conferences, including Laurent Fabius (COP21) and Michał Kurtyka (COP24, Katowice), read a joint statement in Antalya supporting Türkiye’s COP31 presidency.

Former chairs of UN climate conferences gathered in Antalya to read a joint statement supporting Türkiye’s COP31 presidency and Australia, which is leading the negotiations. Laurent Fabius (COP21, Paris), Alok Sharma (COP26, Glasgow), Michał Kurtyka (COP24, Katowice) and André Aranha Corrêa do Lago (COP30, Belém) took part in the meeting.

Fabius said the statement emphasizes the need for continuity between conferences: progress has been made in the fight against climate change, but the steps taken remain far from sufficient. In his view, COP31’s priorities should be electrification, reducing methane emissions, oceans, climate finance and multilateralism.

Экс-президенты COP и Мурат Курум после оглашения заявления

Kurum: “The joint statement is very important”

COP31 President Murat Kurum thanked the former chairs for their support and said Antalya’s goal was to achieve results that would accelerate the implementation of climate measures and strengthen trust between countries. He called on all parties that have not yet presented their national climate plans through 2035 to do so as soon as possible.

Photo: COP31 Türkiye