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Towards COP31

The Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) is implementing a year-long COP31 project aimed at supporting Türkiye's COP31 Presidency through knowledge production, policy dialogue, and stakeholder engagement. Launched in February 2026, the project brings together webinars, policy dialogues, podcast series, research outputs, and international partnerships to strengthen understanding of and engagement with COP31.
Climate Change Climate Change Information and Communication

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.

News and Events
Etkinlikler
November 11, 2026

Energy Crises, Electrification and the Path to a Just Energy Transition: Lessons from Climate Transparency

Organised by the Climate Transparency Initiative (CTI), the event will take place on Wednesday, 11 November, from 13:45 to 14:45 at the Regional Climate Foundations (RCF) Pavilion in the COP31 Blue Zone. The discussion will explore energy crises, electrification and just energy transitions, drawing on experiences from different countries. Ümit Şahin from IPC will participate as a speaker.

Events
Etkinlikler
November 10, 2026

Powering Green Industry: Delivering 35 by 35 through Clean Electricity, Industrial Decarbonization and Global Cooperation

The side event on the steel sector, organised by the Climate Change Foundation, IRENA and UNIDO, will take place on Tuesday, 10 November, from 12:30 to 13:30 at the Korea Pavilion in the COP31 Blue Zone. Dursun Baş from IPC will participate as a speaker.

Events
Etkinlikler
October 26, 2026

The Future of International Climate Governance: How Can COP31 Respond to the Climate and Energy Security Crises?

Jointly organised by TEPAV and Istanbul Policy Center, the event took place at TEPAV on 26 October 2026. Moderated by Mühdan Sağlam and featuring Jennifer Morgan and Ümit Şahin, the discussion explored the future of international climate governance and how COP31 could respond to the climate and energy security crises.

Events
Etkinlikler
October 23, 2026

Final Preparations for COP31: Towards Antalya

Organised by Istanbul Policy Center on 23 October 2026, the event “Pre-COP: Final Discussions Before Antalya” explored key issues on the climate diplomacy agenda ahead of COP31 and expectations for Antalya. The morning sessions, held in English, focused on climate and energy security, geopolitical uncertainties, multilateralism and climate finance. The afternoon sessions, held in Turkish, examined priorities and challenges in the COP31 negotiations, as well as expectations for Antalya.

Events
Etkinlikler
October 23, 2026

IPC Pre-COP: Final Discussions Before Antalya

As COP31 in Antalya approaches, Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) invites you to "IPC Pre-COP: Final Discussions Before Antalya" on October 23, 2026.

Events
Etkinlikler
June 10, 2026

From Bonn to Antalya: Accelerating Implementation and Just Transition through the COP31 Presidency

IPC, together with Chatham House, E3G and ECCO, hosted the side event “From Bonn to Antalya: Accelerating Implementation and Just Transition through the COP31 Presidency" on June 10 in Bonn.

Events
Project Implementers
Ümit Şahin

Ümit Şahin

Ümit Şahin is Senior Scholar and the Head of Climate Change Program at Istanbul Policy Center. 

umit.sahin@sabanciuniv.edu
dijan

Dijan Balkaroğlu

Dijan Balkaroğlu works as the “Towards COP31” Project Coordinator within the Climate Change Program at Istanbul Policy Center.

dijan.balkaroglu@sabanciuniv.edu