Türkiye's Communications Director Duran: COP31 Will Bring Countries Together on Joint Solutions

Communications Director Burhanettin Duran spoke at a panel titled “From Zero Waste to COP31: Türkiye's Climate Diplomacy,” organised by the Communications Directorate. He offered condolences to the four citizens who died in a tornado in Antalya's Kepez district and wished the injured a speedy recovery. Saying climate problems know no borders, Duran referred to a wide range of issues, including biodiversity loss, ocean pollution, desertification, water resources and waste management.

Duran said these problems have outgrown what individual states can solve with their own resources, making international negotiation and cooperation necessary. “Scientific knowledge is not enough,” he said, adding that countries with greater responsibility are expected to build greater capacity in technology transfer and climate finance, and that a fair negotiation regime is needed ahead of COP31. He also said Israel's attacks on Gaza are deepening the climate crisis. Duran noted that Türkiye ratified the Paris Agreement in 2021 and pointed to the Zero Waste movement led by Emine Erdoğan.