Turkey Unveils COP31 Action Agenda and AI Climate Pledge

The Government of Turkey launched a comprehensive climate action agenda and two major initiatives during the UN General Assembly in New York on September 21 and 22. The strategy shifts focus from creating new pledges to implementing existing commitments through measurable targets for 2035. Central to this is the 35x35 initiative, which aims to increase electricity's share of final energy consumption to 35% by 2035 through the electrification of transport, buildings, and industry.

Presented by COP31 President and Minister Murat Kurum, the agenda includes goals to reduce building energy-use intensity by at least 25% and halve projected increases in municipal waste. Kurum stated these targets could reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by 8.5 to 10 gigatons by 2035. To support least-developed countries, Turkey introduced the Green Industrialization Facilitation Mechanism and a Climate Implementation Bridge to develop investment-ready projects.

Additionally, Turkey and the International Telecommunication Union introduced the Antalya Pledge on Artificial Intelligence. This initiative seeks to align AI infrastructure growth with climate goals and demands corporate transparency regarding energy consumption. The upcoming COP31 summit, scheduled for November 9 to 20 at the Expo Center in Antalya, will feature a dedicated day for technology and AI. While Turkey manages the presidency and action agenda, Australia will lead the formal negotiating process.