COP31, the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, will be held in Antalya from November 9-20, 2026. At the summit, which will bring together world leaders, scientists, experts, and civil society representatives, common solutions for combating the climate crisis and for a sustainable future will be discussed.
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller, Head of Üsküdar University Environmental Health Program, evaluated the climate crisis and Turkey's hosting of COP31 within the scope of June 5-11 Environment Protection Week.
The climate crisis is not a problem of the future, but of today
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller stated that the climate crisis is no longer a problem of the future but one of today's biggest issues, saying, 'Many different areas are affected by climate change, from agriculture to food security, from water resources to public health, and even the economy. We know that drought in agriculture leads to a decrease in productivity. Additionally, it is observed that diseases appear more frequently in many agricultural products due to the effects of climate change, and resistance to diseases also decreases. Furthermore, many studies have proven that the nutritional content of products obtained from agricultural production is also negatively affected. Finally, many products may not be cultivable in their current regions in the future due to changes in regional climate characteristics. All of these situations directly negatively affect food security and warn us about adverse scenarios that may be encountered in the future.'
Water crisis threatens public health and economy
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller noted that water resources are also one of the natural resources most affected by climate change, stating, 'Today, water resources in many regions are at risk as climate change disrupts the water cycle. The deterioration in the quantity and quality of water resources directly undermines hygiene conditions, putting public health at global risk. Furthermore, drought accelerates the spread of many epidemic diseases. In addition to all the aforementioned impacts, from agricultural production to food security, and from water resources to public health, there are also economic factors. It is known that many countries today use large funds annually to combat climate change and to support sectors affected by it.' he said.
The Mediterranean Basin, where Turkey is also located, is one of the most vulnerable regions
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller pointed out that our country is located within the Mediterranean Basin, considered one of the regions most affected by climate change, stating, 'In scientific reports prepared on climate change, the Mediterranean Basin is regarded as one of the most vulnerable regions. This situation has manifested itself particularly in recent years with a decrease in water resources, changes in precipitation regimes, widespread forest fires, severe droughts in our southern and inland regions, and more frequent flood disasters, especially on the Black Sea coasts. These indicators reveal the extent of the risks our country faces in terms of both drought and disasters.'
How is global warming changing the climate system?
Adiller stated that Global Warming and Climate Change are two interconnected concepts and explained:
'The concept frequently referred to today as carbon emissions actually refers to the amounts of gases in the air that help warm the air. These gases, whose amounts in the air have increased with the industrial revolution and population growth, cause the air to remain warmer than before, and this situation manifests itself as a rise in the global average air temperature. We call this phenomenon Global Warming. With the increase in temperature, changes also occur in other conditions. Weather events such as evaporation, wind, humidity, and precipitation also change depending on temperature. For example, as the temperature increases, the amount of water evaporating from the Earth's surface increases. Furthermore, as the air gets warmer, its moisture-holding capacity also increases. This means that water from the Earth's surface moves into the air, and because the air is warmer, the return of water present as humidity in the air to the Earth's surface as precipitation is delayed. As a result, drought intensifies due to rain falling at longer intervals, and in some cases, extremely heavy instantaneous rainfall occurs because the air holds more moisture when it rains. All such changes occurring in the climate system are what we call Climate Change. Unfortunately, these changes in climate also lead to consequences such as rising sea levels, changes in precipitation regimes, ocean acidification, and the more frequent occurrence of extreme weather events like storms, tornadoes, and floods.'
Why is Turkey's hosting of COP31 important?
Emphasizing that our country's hosting of COP31 this year means that all circles interested in this field will have their eyes on Turkey, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller said, 'Turkey's assumption of the term presidency in such an environment creates a great opportunity to announce its past and future activities in this field to the world, and to demonstrate its potential to be a decision-making actor in global climate policies. Today, climate change is not merely an environmental concept. Many countries, institutions, and organizations worldwide generally determine their economic policies and investments by considering environmental concepts such as climate change. Therefore, such events are often very important for the finance and business world. The environment created during the summit will also create a unique opportunity for local entrepreneurs and domestic technologies to meet the world.'
COP31 is not just an event for Turkey
In addition, Adiller also stated that our country's 'Zero Waste' Project, which is recognized by the United Nations, will have the opportunity to be presented as an applicable model to all countries worldwide in this environment, saying, 'COP31 is not just an event for Turkey; it is a historic chance for it to demonstrate itself on the path to the 2053 Net Zero Emission target, attract global investments, and prove itself as a pioneer in producing solutions against the climate crisis.'
Turkey's showcase at COP31; Zero Waste and resilient cities
Adiller noted that Turkey's focus at COP31 should definitely be the Zero Waste Project, which is currently undergoing a branding process, saying, 'The project, launched in 2017 and whose global recognition has increased in recent years, is highly compatible with climate change processes in terms of both circular economy and reducing waste-related emissions. In addition, it can serve as an important example in correctly conveying Turkey's vision. Furthermore, the concept of Resilient Cities, brought up with the reconstruction process of Hatay, and the adaptation of cities to the climate crisis will be important agenda items. Moreover, green energy and decarbonization in industry, climate finance, and technological infrastructures can form important agenda items and bring positive feedback to our country.'
Countries' interest in COP meetings is a matter of prestige
Adiller stated that although COP processes are concepts debated regarding their binding nature, countries' stances on the situation can create indirect effects on a global scale, saying, 'Even though the Framework Convention on Climate Change or the Paris Agreement do not have deterrent sanctions against countries' actions or inactions regarding climate change, as we mentioned before, the concept of climate change itself is one of the processes closely monitored by investors or financial institutions. Therefore, the interest shown by countries in COP meetings or the extent to which these processes are incorporated into local policy and law grants them prestige in this regard and is considered an indicator of investment attractiveness in certain circles.'
Turkey is among countries experiencing water stress
Adiller explained that climate change, by both prolonging drought periods and causing heavy rainfall, negatively affects water resources in our country, stating the following:
'Heavy rainfall reduces the proportion of water absorbed by the soil and entering groundwater, while also triggering processes like floods and inundations. As a result of these processes, the precipitation that should nourish the soil, groundwater, and rivers if it were to fall at regular intervals, is unfortunately largely lost. According to data from the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ), the annual per capita usable water amount in our country was 1,652 m3 in 2000, 1,544 m3 in 2009, and 1,346 m3 in 2020. This current value we have places our country among Water-Stressed countries. If this rate of decrease continues under the same conditions, we can say that the annual per capita usable water amount in our country will fall below 1,000 m3, the threshold for being water-poor, in the 2050s. While even this scenario is alarming in itself, examinations using satellite images show that many lakes in our country have suffered significant water loss over the last 40 years, and some are facing the risk of completely drying up. Here, the sole reason is not, of course, climate change; we must also emphasize the unfortunate fact that incorrect agricultural practices have accelerated the process.'
We are about to reach a crossroads regarding climate change
Highlighting that we are about to reach a crossroads regarding climate change today, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller said, 'It is still not too late to take radical steps to change our current situation and adapt to climate change. However, every year passed in inaction increases the risk. Ten years is a very short period to witness the striking effects of climate change, but after a 30 to 50-year period without taking any steps or precautions, our country could face situations such as water and food shortages, significant ecological losses (some ecosystems on the verge of extinction), very intense internal migrations, and serious infrastructure problems, especially in some regions.'
Adiller stated that many surveys conducted today show people have lost faith in the fight against climate change, saying, 'Many respondents, in particular, believe that countries are not fulfilling their duties. I don't think they are wrong in this regard. I wish some countries would invest in life what they invest in war for the sake of political and economic interests, so we could ensure the sustainability of life on Earth.' he concluded.
