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Murat Kurum said the Developing Eight organization holds special transformative power in the global climate agenda given its geography stretching from Asia to Africa and the Middle East with a population exceeding 1 billion, adding that the bloc’s common will is vital for COP31’s implementation-oriented approach.
Türkiye’s Environment Minister and COP31 President Murat Kurum said on Friday that the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation can become a transformative force in the global climate agenda. Citing the bloc’s geographic reach from Asia to Africa and the Middle East, he told representatives from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Azerbaijan that cooperation among members would strengthen the role of developing countries in climate governance.
“The D-8 family, with its geography stretching from Asia to Africa and the Middle East and a population exceeding 1 billion, has a special place and transformative power in the global climate agenda,” Kurum said. He added that “the common will to be demonstrated by the D-8 is of particular importance for COP31’s implementation-oriented approach.”
Implementation-focused presidency
Kurum outlined Türkiye’s vision for COP31 in Antalya as an implementation platform focused on accelerating climate adaptation, strengthening access to finance and technology, enhancing urban resilience and expanding nature-based solutions. “We see COP31 as an implementation platform where climate adaptation is accelerated, access to finance and technology is strengthened, urban resilience is enhanced and nature-based solutions are expanded,” he said.
The presidency has adopted three main principles — dialogue, consensus and action — while the COP31 Action Agenda includes 10 priority areas ranging from methane reduction and energy efficiency to sustainable agriculture and green industrialization. Climate change is no longer a future risk but a present challenge affecting economic development, food security and public welfare, Kurum noted, stressing that significant gaps remain between climate pledges and on-the-ground implementation.
2035 targets and Climate Bridge
The minister proposed measurable global implementation targets extending to 2035, including raising the global electrification rate to 35 percent, halving waste generation growth, reducing building energy-use intensity by at least 25 percent and increasing circular material use to 15 percent. Kurum said the Climate Implementation Bridge would help developing countries turn commitments into investable projects and gain access to financing.
The meeting was expected to produce the Istanbul Declaration, setting out the group’s common environmental vision ahead of the Antalya summit. Discussions addressed climate adaptation, loss and damage, climate finance and a just transition among D-8 countries.
Titles :murat kurumcop31d-8 organizationdeveloping eightclimate changeantalyaistanbul declarationclimate finance
