Towards COP31
Through this project, IPC contributes to informed and inclusive discussions on key COP31 themes, including climate diplomacy, energy transition, climate finance, just transition, and implementation, while fostering dialogue among national and international stakeholders.
The project runs from February 2026 to March 2027. For further information, please contact project coordinator Dijan Balkaroğlu.
Next Steps in Industrial Decarbonization: Progress in Global Steel and Cement Initiatives
Organised by Istanbul Policy Center, worldsteel and the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), this official UNFCCC side event will take place on Thursday, 19 November 2026, from 13:15 to 14:45, in Side Event Room 8 – Bergama in the COP31 Blue Zone. The discussion will assess progress in global initiatives to decarbonise the steel and cement sectors, exploring policies and opportunities for international cooperation to accelerate industrial transformation. Ümit Şahin from IPC will moderate the event. Speakers will include Hiroyuki Tezuka from worldsteel, Faustine Delasalle from the Mission Possible Partnership (MPP), Thomas Guillot from GCCA, Soyoung Oh from the Climate Policy Lab at Tufts University, Dursun Baş from IPC and Tuğba Dinçbaş from the Türkiye COP31 Presidency.
From Commitments to Implementation: Delivering a Just Energy Transition – Evidence from Türkiye, Brazil and Other Emerging Economies
Organised by Istanbul Policy Center, the event will take place on Thursday, 19 November, from 11:15 to 12:00 at the Türkiye Pavilion in the COP31 Blue Zone. Drawing on experiences from Türkiye, Brazil and other emerging economies, the discussion will explore the implementation of just energy transition policies and the challenges involved. Ümit Şahin from IPC will moderate the event, while Onur Akgül from IPC will participate as a speaker. Other speakers include Rosana Santos from Brazil, Bengisu Özenç from SEFiA, and Easwaran Narassimhan from the Climate Policy Lab at Tufts University.
The Next Phase of TAFF: From Roadmap to Implementation and Global Cooperation
Organised by Climate Analytics, this side event will take place on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, from 16:15 to 17:15, at the Regional Climate Foundations (RCF) Pavilion in the COP31 Blue Zone. The discussion will explore the next phase of transitioning away from fossil fuels, focusing on moving from roadmaps to implementation and strengthening global cooperation. Daisy Dune from Carbon Brief will moderate the event. Speakers will include Neil Grant from Climate Analytics, Valeria Zanini from ECCO Climate, Edlayan Passos from Instituto E+, Matthew Webb from E3G, Natalie Jones from IISD, Ümit Şahin from IPC and Kapwani Kavenuke from Power Shift Africa.
COP31 Reporters’ Dinner
The traditional reporters’ dinner, held during COP conferences, will take place on Sunday, 15 November, from 18:00 to 22:00 in Kaleiçi, Antalya. Organised by E3G and its partners, the event will bring together international journalists and climate policy experts. Istanbul Policy Center will contribute to the local organisation of the dinner in Antalya. Ümit Şahin and Akgün İlhan from IPC will also attend.
Geopolitics of Food: Redefining Security
Organised by Istanbul Policy Center, the Center for Climate and Security and the Council on Foreign Relations, this side event will take place on Thursday, 12 November 2026, from 14:00 to 15:00, at the Germany Pavilion in the COP31 Blue Zone. The discussion will explore the geopolitics of food and its implications for security. Michael Werz from the Council on Foreign Relations will moderate the event, with Erin Sikorsky from the Center for Climate and Security, Maximo Torero from FAO, Vera Songwe from LSE and Zafer Yenal from IPC participating as speakers.
The Implementation Gap: Climate Finance, Access, and Asia’s Energy Transition
Organised by Istanbul Policy Center, Change Initiative and Renewables First, this side event will take place on Friday, 13 November 2026, from 17:30 to 18:30, at the Regional Climate Foundations (RCF) Pavilion in the COP31 Blue Zone. The discussion will examine the implementation gap in Asia’s energy transition, focusing on climate finance and access to funding. M. Zakir Hossain Khan from Change Initiative will moderate the event, with Ümit Şahin from IPC, Hamza Ali Haroon from CVF-V20, Muhammad Basit Ghauri from Renewables First and Iliana Stefanova from IRENA participating as speakers.
Ümit Şahin
Ümit Şahin is Senior Scholar and the Head of Climate Change Program at Istanbul Policy Center.
umit.sahin@sabanciuniv.edu
Dijan Balkaroğlu
Dijan Balkaroğlu works as the “Towards COP31” Project Coordinator within the Climate Change Program at Istanbul Policy Center.
dijan.balkaroglu@sabanciuniv.edu