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.
COP31 Insights 3: Setting the Scene for Mediterranean Agenda for COP31
The third event in the webinar series “COP31 Insights,” organized as part of IPC’s preparations for COP31, took place on October 26, featuring Gabriele Cassetti, Hanne Knaepen, Yara Saab, and Bengisu Özenç.
Paris-Antalya Podcast 7: COP31 and Climate Testimony
The seventh and final episode of “Paris-Antalya Podcast” a series bringing together different perspectives on the road to COP31, was released on 7 October. Titled “COP31 and Climate Testimony,” the episode features Deniz Gündoğan İbrişim as the speaker and Ümit Şahin as the moderator.
COP31 Dialogues 3: What Does Civil Society Expect? From Coal Phase-Out to the Action Agenda
Organised by Istanbul Policy Center on 5 October 2026 under the theme “What Does Civil Society Expect?”, the third meeting of the COP31 Dialogues series examined Türkiye’s climate policy priorities, focusing on coal phase-out and electrification, carbon pricing and trade, food security, and climate and health. The civil society forum following the panel explored coal phase-out, climate negotiations, and civil society’s priorities ahead of COP31.
Paris Antalya Podcast 6: COP31 and the Right to Food
The sixth episode of the "Paris Antalya" podcast series, which brings together different perspectives in the run-up to COP31, was released on September 23. The episode, titled "COP31 and the Right to Food (COP31 ve Gıda Hakkı)," featured Berkan Özyer as the speaker and Ümit Şahin as the moderator.
COP31 Panel 2: EU-India Partnership and the Road to COP31: Bridging Trade and Climate Diplomacy
Held at Istanbul Policy Center on 15 September 2026, the event explored EU-India relations and climate diplomacy on the road to COP31. Following opening remarks by Mijito Vinito and Senem Aydın-Düzgit, the first panel, moderated by Senem Aydın-Düzgit, featured Mustafa Kutlay and Ummu Salma Bava, who examined India-EU relations in the context of the comprehensive strategic agenda and the free trade agreement. In the second panel, moderated by Ümit Şahin, Vibha Dhawan and Hasan Aksoy discussed India’s climate diplomacy and the shift from ambition to implementation ahead of COP31.
COP31 Explained 4: Adaptation in Antalya: From Global Goals to Finance and Implementation
At the fourth event of the “COP31 Explained” series, held on September 10 as part of preparations for COP31, Ümit Şahin, Climate Change Program Coordinator at Sabancı University–Istanbul Policy Center (IPC), hosted Akgün İlhan from IPC and Emilie Beauchamp from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
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