In a shared commitment to transparency, cooperation, and meaningful engagement, the President-designate of the 2026 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 31) and the COP 31 President of Negotiations highlighted COP 31 as an opportunity to enhance decarbonization, strengthen clean industries and jobs, and build more resilient energy systems by diversifying energy resources and by strengthening adaptation and resilience.

In a joint letter dated 20 May 2026, COP 31 President-designate Murat Kurum (Türkiye) and President of Negotiations Chris Bowen (Australia) pledge to work “to strengthen collective action, accelerate implementation and reinforce international cooperation in pursuit of the goals of the Paris Agreement” on climate change.

In his address, the President-designate describes COP 31 as an “Implementation COP” and a “COP of the Future,” with the aim of “translating commitments into tangible and trackable progress.” Among priority areas, he reiterates the energy transition, a circular economy, resilient cities and infrastructure, sustainable agriculture and food systems, the green industrial transformation, climate finance, and the resilience of vulnerable regions and ecosystems.

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Highlighting his country’s commitment to the multilateral climate system, the President of Negotiations undertakes to work “in an inclusive, transparent and party-driven manner, focused on acceleration and implementation.” Announcing the Special Envoy for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience, Pacific Climate Envoys, and other COP 31 roles, he looks forward to hosting the Pre-COP in Fiji in October 2026.

The President-designate and President of Negotiations will partner with the COP 29 and COP 30 Presidencies to support the implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) to enable ambition and accelerate implementation to keep 1.5°C within reach. COP 31 will also seek to strengthen the workstreams on mitigation, adaptation, and finance and in cross-cutting areas that include just transition, agriculture, and transparency.

The President-designate and President of Negotiations will work with parties on the development of the Just Transition Mechanism to promote orderly and inclusive transitions that leave no one behind. They will also:

• Advance the COP 30 dialogues on the Global Stocktake, finance, and trade;
• Promote the implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation and the initial funding processes for the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage;
• Work to scale up climate finance from all sources and align global investment flows with climate goals; and
• Advance capacity building and technology development and transfer.

They recognize the importance of timely submissions of NDCs, NAPs, and Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) and look forward to stronger levels of submissions in 2026.

The Türkiye-Australia shared presidency arrangements are governed by the Türkiye-Australia Partnership Modalities.  [The Road to Antalya] [COP 31 Host Country Website]