An international conference titled “TURKİYE’S ROAD TO COP31: RESILIENT CITIES” was held in Antalya, Türkiye, ahead of the upcoming United Nations Climate Conference (COP31) scheduled for November this year. The two-day event, held on 8–9 May, focused on building resilient and sustainable cities in response to the growing impacts of climate change.
Representing Bangladesh, Minister to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr. Abdul Awal Mintoo, participated in the conference held at the Museum Hotel in Hatay, Turkiye. Environment and climate ministers, policy makers and international development partners from various countries attended the event.
In the opening session, Turkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mr. Murat Kurum welcomed the international delegates and emphasized the importance of developing disaster-resilient and sustainable urban systems to address climate risks.
Later, Bangladesh Environment Minister Mr. Abdul Awal Mintoo held a bilateral meeting with Turkish Minister Mr. Murat Kurum. During the meeting, the Turkish minister sought Bangladesh’s views and recommendations regarding COP31 and the proposed “Hatay Declaration,” describing Bangladesh as a close and friendly partner of Turkiye in the international community.
Minister Murat Kurum also invited Bangladesh to actively participate in the upcoming COP31 conference and expressed Turkiye’s interest in strengthening cooperation with Bangladesh on environmental protection and climate resilience initiatives.
Thanking the Government of Turkiye for the invitation Mr. Abdul Awal Mintoo stated that a large number of Bangladeshis currently reside in Turkiye and that the people of Bangladesh consider Turkiye a friendly nation.
The Minister noted that although Bangladesh contributes only 0.35 percent of global carbon emissions, it remains one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. He said that deforestation, rapid urbanization, and rising sea levels continue to threaten the country’s environment and livelihoods. Despite facing severe climate-related challenges for decades, Bangladesh has not received adequate global financial support proportional to its needs, he added.
Mr. Mintoo informed that Bangladesh would present a special agenda at COP31 seeking greater international cooperation and climate financing for vulnerable countries. He also announced that Bangladesh would appoint focal persons ahead of COP31 to effectively present the country’s climate vulnerabilities, priorities, and support requirements at the international level.
The Minister stressed the need for greater responsibility from developed countries and called for fair and timely climate financing for affected nations.
Later, Mr. Abdul Awal Mintoo participated in a panel discussion alongside Gambian Minister Rohey John Manjang, Syrian Minister Mohammed Anjrani, World Bank Country Director for Turkiye Humberto Lopez and General Manager of İLBANK Eyyup Karahan.
Responding to a question during the discussion, the Bangladesh Environment Minister highlighted the importance of financing for climate-resilient infrastructure and urban systems. He said that although the least developed and developing countries contribute comparatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions, they remain the worst victims of climate change. He emphasized the urgent need for effective climate financing mechanisms and faster fund disbursement for vulnerable countries, including Bangladesh.
The Minister further stated that alongside financial support, technical cooperation in climate-resilient infrastructure development, technology transfer and capacity building is equally important.
On the sidelines of the conference, Bangladesh and the Maldives held a bilateral meeting aimed at strengthening cooperation in environment, climate change, and energy sectors. Maldives Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Energy Ali Shareef sought Bangladesh’s support for a planned initiative to plant five million trees in the Maldives, particularly in nursery development, sapling production and technical assistance.
In response, Mr. Abdul Awal Mintoo stated that under the directives of Honerable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and in line with the government’s manifesto, Bangladesh has undertaken a priority programme to plant 250 million trees over the next five years. He invited the Maldives Environment Minister to visit Bangladesh to observe the country’s nursery operations, sapling production systems and tree plantation management practices.
On the final day of the programme, Kosovo’s Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Fitore Pacolli paid a courtesy call on the Bangladesh Environment Minister. During the meeting, Kosovo sought Bangladesh’s support for inclusion in the COP process and Bangladesh assured its cooperation. The two sides also discussed the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on environmental and climate cooperation during COP31. It was noted that Bangladesh was the first country to recognize Kosovo following its independence, although Kosovo is not yet a member of the United Nations.
The two-day programme concluded with the adoption of the Hatay Declaration, in the presence of ministers and representatives from participating countries. A high-level roundtable discussion was also held, where participants emphasized the importance of climate risk mitigation, resilient urban development, environmentally sustainable infrastructure, and enhanced international cooperation.