Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Thursday that the political commitment displayed during the COP31 Leaders' Summit in Antalya has delivered encouraging momentum toward advancing the goals of the Paris Agreement. In a statement reflecting on the high-level gathering, Erdogan called on the international community to sustain their determination and accelerate execution efforts to ensure global warming limits remain manageable.
"The political commitment demonstrated in Antalya is encouraging for the work to be carried out under the Paris Agreement. Let us maintain this determination, continue our efforts towards implementation and make the 1.5-degree target achievable," Erdogan said in his statement.
The Turkish president expressed his "deepest gratitude" to all participating heads of state and government, stressing that their direct engagement carried extraordinary significance during a period marked by severe international challenges. He noted that widespread participation confirmed a shared political commitment to global climate action and demonstrated collective confidence that international difficulties can be overcome through cooperation. Erdogan also extended thanks to international organisations, multilateral development banks, participating parties, and key stakeholders for their active contributions and constructive engagement throughout the COP31 proceedings.
With the 2015 Paris Agreement entering its second decade, Erdogan emphasized that discussions during the summit reaffirmed that tackling the climate crisis is both a scientific necessity and a moral obligation. "Our responsibility extends to all people whose lives are already being affected, to future generations and to the world on which both our societies and economies depend," he said.
Reflecting on recent natural disasters, the loss of life, and the widespread destruction of livelihoods, Erdogan described these events as clear indicators of the humanitarian urgency driving climate action. He expressed solidarity with affected communities and those assisting in their recovery, emphasizing the urgent need to bolster early warning systems, climate resilience, and adaptation measures, particularly for populations facing the highest risks.
"These issues must remain at the centre of our efforts as we seize the opportunities offered by electrification, green industrialisation and sustainable development," Erdogan added.
During the summit, high-level events facilitated broad discussions on key themes including electrification, implementation, green industrialisation, zero waste, resilience, and climate finance. Erdogan highlighted that these sessions successfully brought forward the priorities of vulnerable regions such as Africa and the Pacific, underscoring the necessity of designing climate solutions that respond directly to national development needs and local circumstances.
Erdogan pointed out that Türkiye designed COP31 specifically as an "implementation-focused COP." He noted that the Climate Implementation Bridge mechanism gained strong support at the event. The initiative aims to translate existing climate pledges into concrete results through closer cooperation among governments, multilateral financial institutions, and global stakeholders while backing country-led efforts in resilience, adaptation, and sustainable development.
The president also welcomed widespread backing for the "35×35 Global Electrification Pledge," noting that numerous world leaders recognized the broad benefits of expanding electrification, with several countries already joining the initiative. Tailoring electrification models to align with each country's specific needs can bolster both national energy security and economic development, he explained.
Concluding his remarks, Erdogan expressed hope that the lasting legacy of Türkiye's COP31 presidency would be the creation of closer cooperation between decision-makers establishing national priorities and the international partners helping to deliver them as work under the Paris Agreement continues.
