We organized the meeting together with the Global Climate Academy to evaluate the role and strategic preparedness of civil society organizations in Turkey within the scope of the COP31 Negotiation and Action Agenda.
The participants of the meeting we held on January 29, 2026, were invited based on the structure of the 9 Major Group Cores, which include environmental associations, the private sector, local governments, trade unions, youth and children, women and gender, farmers, academics, and local communities. 42 representatives from 30 organizations attended the meeting, to which environmental organizations, rights-based organizations, trade unions, associations of municipalities, and business world organizations were invited.
The meeting addressed the strategic positioning of civil society during Turkey's COP31 presidency process, which it shares with Australia. The main focus of the meeting was to align the vision of participation and capacity sharing of civil society organizations in Turkey with the global climate movement.
Civil society is not just a technical observer
Participants emphasized that civil society should not be merely a technical observer but a legitimate actor amplifying the voices of affected communities. Transparency of the process, the right to participate, and compliance with international standards formed the main framework of the discussion.
In the upcoming period, we will continue to organize online and in-person meetings in cooperation with GCA (Global Climate Academy) to inform civil society organizations about the COP31 process and to facilitate their engagement with similar organizations around the world.
About COP31
The 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be held in Antalya under Turkey’s presidency and Australia’s Negotiation Presidency between November 9–20, 2026. Prior to COP31, a Leaders' Summit is also expected to be held in Istanbul. Due to its scope and content, COP31 will be the largest and most significant sustainability-themed gathering in Turkey since the HABITAT II Summit held in Istanbul in 1996.
