Minister Kurum Calls for Global Action at COP17 Summit
· Sabah Ekonomi
Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum highlighted that 40% of global lands are under threat of degradation at COP17, calling for concrete action for COP31 in Antalya.
Global Call for Combating Desertification
Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 President Murat Kurum participated in the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17) held in Mongolia via video message. Reminding of Turkey's hosting of COP12 in 2015, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 President Murat Kurum made the following statements according to the Ministry's announcement:
"In Ankara, we contributed to the inclusion of the goal of achieving a world where land degradation is balanced by 2030. We then launched the Ankara Initiative. We especially supported developing countries in setting and implementing their targets. Today, we are very pleased that over 100 countries have reached these goals."
Land Degradation and Ecosystem Threat
Stating that coordination among the Rio Conventions is essential for preserving soil fertility and ecological balance, Minister Kurum shared critical data. Drawing attention to the data from the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 President Murat Kurum noted:
"Climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation are not separate issues. The forest fires occurring in different parts of the world today, the threat of extinction to over a million species, and the degradation of up to 40% of the world's lands send us a very clear message: we must take faster and stronger steps."
COP31 Goals and Action Strategy
Minister Kurum touched upon Turkey's leadership role in global environmental and climate policies, emphasizing the importance of the Rio Synergy Protocol and stating that the process must progress with concrete steps. Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 President Murat Kurum outlined the fundamental principles of Turkey's presidency vision:
"We will bring countries together around the same table through dialogue. We will strengthen common will through consensus. We will transform this will into concrete results through action. We want action, not words anymore."
Kurum underlined that multilateral negotiations must definitely translate into direct field applications and measurable outcomes.
Food Security and Invitation to Antalya
Noting that sustainable agriculture, food security, clean energy, circular economy, and climate-resilient cities are priority areas within the COP31 Action Agenda, Kurum drew attention to the 2035 targets. Pointing to financing mechanisms, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 President Murat Kurum made a call:
"With the Climate Action Bridge, we aim to contribute to the faster and more effective delivery of climate finance to the field. I would like to state that we will be very pleased to see you at our COP31 summit, which we believe will be a historic turning point. Let's meet in November in Antalya, one of the most beautiful cities in the world."