COP31 Opens in Turkey Amid Criticism

Thousands of diplomats and corporate leaders arrived in Antalya, Turkey, for the U.N. climate summit, known as COP31. The event began on Monday, bringing the annual global negotiations to a Mediterranean resort city. While the Turkish government views the gathering as a major diplomatic achievement, local environmental groups argue the host nation is using the platform to project an eco-friendly image that does not match its on-the-ground practices.

The Turkish Ministry of Climate released promotional materials featuring scenic imagery and a call to protect the air. According to these materials, Turkey is ready to lead on climate issues. However, Ümit Şahin, head of the climate change program at the Istanbul Policy Center, stated that the primary driver for hosting the summit was prestige. He described the event as a showcase for Turkey's status as a serious middle power and global player.

Şahin noted that Turkey ratified the Paris Agreement in 2021 and created a dedicated climate ministry. Yet, he argues that the country lacks a real climate policy behind the paperwork and strategies. He pointed to the Zero Waste campaign as a key example. Although the initiative aims to recycle or reuse all waste, Turkey accepts more European plastic waste than any other nation. Şahin said much of this imported material is burned or dumped rather than recycled, calling the campaign the country's number one instance of greenwashing.

Turkish activists are organizing a parallel conference to pressure world leaders during the official summit. Çiğdem Özbaş, a volunteer at the People's Climate Summit, accused the government of favoring business interests over farmers and rural communities. She predicted that many corporations would present technological solutions while continuing ecological damage. Critics specifically cited sponsors such as Limak Holding, which is expanding coal mines on ancient olive groves, and Sinpaş GYO, which poured concrete inside a national park for a luxury resort.

Özlem Katısöz, a representative from the Turkey chapter of Climate Action Network Europe, offered a more optimistic view. She believes hosting the summit creates an opening for civil society to hold the government accountable. Katısöz argued that Turkey must improve its domestic climate policies to have a credible voice in global discussions. The Turkish Ministry of Climate did not respond to a request for comment regarding the criticisms.

The summit provides a stage for nations to negotiate collective agreements on limiting global warming. For Turkish environmentalists, the focus is on whether the host nation will address its own regulatory gaps. The presence of major infrastructure and real estate developers as sponsors has drawn scrutiny from local groups. These organizations plan to use the parallel conference to highlight specific projects and policies they view as inconsistent with the summit's goals.