The 20th Issue of the Ecosystem Review Focuses on COP31 Antalya and Climate Diplomacy

The 20^th issue of the "Ecosystem Review" by TSKB Economic Research focuses on this year's COP31 in Antalya to be hosted and presided over by Türkiye. The new issue covers a wide range of topics including but not limited to Türkiye's green transformation journey, energy independence, just transition and artificial intelligence.

The 20^th issue of the Ecosystem Review, a periodical by TSKB Economic Research, focuses on the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31), which will take place in Antalya between 9-20 November 2026 and is dubbed one of the most critical meetings of global climate diplomacy.

This issue details the main topics standing out from a macrodevelopment perspective during the run-up to the COP31. It comprehensively reviews savings from reduced fossil fuel imports as well as technological developments against the COP backdrop in addition to energy transition, emission targets, just transition and new investments. The report offers a data-driven perspective on the key agenda items to be discussed before and during the summit.

Highlights from the 20^th issue of the Ecosystem Review are as follows:

• In addition to its significance in climate diplomacy, COP31 Antalya carries a rather special meaning for Türkiye, the host country for the conference. The success of this conference should not be limited to solely being "good hosts" but it should be recognized as a new milestone in the global climate agenda.
• In order for Türkiye to reach the 2053 Net Zero target, emission reductions must reach 20% annually from 2035 onwards, and it is required to include among relevant action steps specific targets to increase sink areas. 
• Steps such as increasing wind and solar investments and capacity, integrating electricity storage facilities into the system and building the grid infrastructure to support these technologies particularly in the last two decades have played a major role in Türkiye's energy transformation. 
• Calculations by TSKB Economic Research demonstrate that the increased use of renewable energy in the last two decades has resulted in a saving of USD 78 billion in energy imports. 
• The just transition process positions combating climate change as a people-oriented effort rather than just "carbon mathematics" and requires a holistic social transformation focusing on local engagement, social dialogue and an inclusive skills mobilization that equips the workforce with new generation competencies.
• Artificial intelligence brings in key benefits when it is used in agriculture and the manufacturing industry to reduce resource utilization, lower costs and increase efficiency. However, to respond to the ecosystem crisis, breakthroughs are needed in many other technological fields besides artificial intelligence.
• Renewable natural resources per capita have declined by more than 20% over the 25-year period between 1995 and 2020. Reducing environmental and natural degradation is no longer a sufficient solution. We need to make efforts to repair this degradation beyond solely minimizing it. The COP31 meetings to be held in Türkiye this year appear to present an ideal opportunity to do this. 
• In addition to tax incentives and guarantee mechanisms, development bank loans, green bonds, green and sustainability-linked loans and capital market practices involving public-private partnerships stand out in financing green transformation investments. 
• COP31 is expected to give a new impulse to discussions on climate adaptation themes such as water security, food security and healthcare systems.
• Launched under the leadership of our country, the Zero Waste Movement was introduced worldwide in cooperation with the United Nations and other global organizations in 2021 and will make a strong emphasis on the COP31 process with its potential and impact to spread around the world.
• The problem has evolved into an ecosystem crisis beyond the climate crisis, thus further highlighting "nature positive" and "regeneration" themes. An opportunity to leave a lasting mark in combating the ecosystem crisis could arise if Türkiye makes COP31 a turning point with a strong emphasis on these themes.

The 20^th issue of the Ecosystem Review is available here.