The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, emphasized in his remarks that expecting equal progress in climate policies from all countries, while inequalities in access to financial resources and technology exist, is unrealistic. He called on all countries to support Turkey's COP31 summit action plan.
COP31 Summit Action Plan
On Monday, the head of Turkey's COP31 summit outlined a plan aimed at turning climate commitments into measurable projects and outcomes. This plan includes goals such as increasing the share of electricity in energy consumption to 35% by 2035 and halving the projected increase in urban waste.
According to an agreement, Australia will lead the formal negotiations at the COP31 summit, while Turkey will take on the presidency and action plan responsibilities. This summit will be held from November 9 to 20 in Antalya, Turkey.
Global Progress and Expectations
Erdogan, in his speech at the UN climate summit in New York, referred to the ongoing cooperation between Turkey and Australia to ensure that the expectations of all regions are addressed in the summit's agenda. He also emphasized the importance of holding pre-summit events in Fiji and a leaders' meeting in Tuvalu, stating that these meetings are valuable for amplifying the voices of Pacific Island countries.
Erdogan said: "Any proposal that cannot align our climate goals with social and economic realities is doomed to fail." He also expressed hope that countries will provide strong support for the COP31 action plan.
He added: "Steps that help strengthen the prosperity of different countries must be shaped according to their own conditions, resources, and development priorities. In a situation where inequalities in access to financial resources and technology continue, expecting equal progress from all countries is unrealistic."
Erdogan concluded by stating: "We can only achieve a fair transition that is sufficiently sustainable if we establish a strong link between climate goals and development and prosperity."
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