Türkiye sets COP31 dates and appoints Australian cattle farmer as youth champion

Türkiye has announced key details for the upcoming COP31 climate summit, including dates, venues, and leadership roles. The COP31 World Leaders’ Summit will be held in Antalya on November 11 and 12, during the broader conference running from November 9 to 20. This marks a shift from previous summits, which typically took place at the start of the conference; this year’s summit is scheduled for the third and fourth days to enhance political momentum and visibility. The Turkish Environment Minister and COP31 President-Designate, Murat Kurum, also confirmed that the Pacific pre-COP meetings will take place in Fiji and Tuvalu from October 5 to 8. The pre-COP events in the Pacific are part of a deal with Australia, which relinquished its bid to host the summit in exchange for leading the COP31 negotiations. Australia’s Climate and Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, has been appointed President of Negotiations and will hold exclusive authority in guiding the talks, working in consultation with Türkiye. Kurum expressed confidence in Bowen’s leadership and indicated that a joint letter outlining negotiation priorities will be issued soon. Preparations for COP31 will also be discussed at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin in April, where German officials plan to engage with Bowen. In addition to logistical announcements, Türkiye has appointed two climate champions to support COP31 efforts. Samed Ağırbaş, president of Türkiye’s Zero Waste Foundation, has been named the COP31 Climate High-Level Champion, focusing on collaboration with businesses, cities, regions, and civil society to advance climate action. Sally Higgins, an Australian cattle farmer and sustainability consultant with expertise in land-use change, has been appointed as Youth Climate Champion, representing the interests and perspectives of younger generations in the climate dialogue. These developments underscore Türkiye’s commitment to hosting a high-profile and inclusive climate summit, aiming to foster global cooperation and accelerate climate action through diverse leadership and strategic partnerships.