Turkey says it has final say at COP31 in Antalya
Turkish Environment Minister Murat Kurum said in Trabzon that the final decision at the COP31 climate summit in Antalya will remain with the Turkish presidency, although Australia will lead the official negotiations. This was reported by Climate Home News.
Division of roles
At COP30, the governments of Turkey and Australia agreed to end their dispute over hosting COP31. The summit will take place in Antalya, Turkey, and Kurum will be COP31 president. Australian minister Chris Bowen will serve as COP31 president of negotiations.
Kurum stressed that Turkey and Australia are not co-presidents of the conference: Turkey chairs COP31, while Australia is responsible for the negotiation process. According to him, the countries consult each other, but the final decision belongs to the COP31 presidency.
Powers in negotiations
The document on partnership mechanisms stipulates that the COP31 president will appoint an Australian representative as president of negotiations and vice-president of the conference. He will be delegated leadership of the negotiations during the summit and exclusive powers over the negotiation process. In the event of disagreements between Turkey and Australia, the sides must hold consultations until they reach a mutually acceptable decision.
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Kurum said that the countries are currently cooperating without problems. Bowen had also previously said that Australia and Turkey are working together toward one goal.
Electrification of economies
Turkey will be responsible for the COP31 Action Agenda, the part of the conference outside formal negotiations that involves businesses, citizens and local authorities in climate initiatives. Kurum said that the agenda does not provide for separate initiatives to phase out fossil fuels. At the same time, its key goal, the electrification of economies, including through heat pumps and electric vehicles, is expected to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
He also noted that COP31 will build on the COP28 agreement on transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems.
