As Türkiye prepares to host COP31, the Towards COP31: Local Climate Action Policy Dialogue – Local Leadership, Urban Resilience and Sustainable Transformation was held on 26 October at the Teymur Continental Hotel & Convention Center in Gaziantep. The dialogue brought together mayors, national and international institutions, UN agencies, financial institutions, academia, the private sector and civil society to discuss the role of local governments in advancing climate action.
Hosted by Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality and jointly organized by WALD, the United Nations in Türkiye, the Zero Waste Foundation, the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion and UCLG-MEWA, the event aimed to connect local climate priorities with the COP31 process.
High-Level Opening and Draft Joint Declaration
The opening session featured remarks by Dr. Mehmet Duman (WALD/UCLG-MEWA), Mr. Oktay Kaya (Deputy Governor of Gaziantep), Ms. Fatma Şahin (Mayor of Gaziantep), Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi (UN Resident Coordinator in Türkiye) and Mr. Samed Ağırbaş (COP31 High-Level Climate Champion). Mr. Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of Konya, COP31 Envoy and UCLG President, also addressed participants through a video message.
Following the opening, Mr. Yehia Ibrahim, General Coordinator of UCLG-MEWA, read out the draft Joint Declaration of the Towards COP31 Dialogue, outlining shared priorities for local climate action, urban resilience and sustainable transformation. The declaration will be further developed and finalized during COP31 in Antalya in November 2026.
Mayoral Sessions: Leadership, Governance and Climate Finance
The first high-level mayoral session, “Local Leadership and Multilevel Climate Governance for Climate Action,” was moderated by Prof. Dr. Emine Koban of Gaziantep University and featured Mr. Ahmet Aras, Mayor of Muğla; Ms. Ayşe Serra Bucak Küçük, Mayor of Diyarbakır; and Dr. Cemil Tugay, Mayor of İzmir. Discussions focused on municipal leadership, governance models, and coordination across different levels of government.
The second session, “Access to Climate Finance and Partnerships,” moderated by Ms. Hülya Alper, Director of WALD Academy, brought together Mr. Ali Tombaş, Mayor of Sultanbeyli; Mr. Şenol Kul, Mayor of Terme; and Mr. Abdurrahman Dursun, Mayor of Sultangazi. Participants discussed municipal access to climate finance, strategic partnerships, and the mobilization of resources for sustainable urban initiatives.
Five Thematic Roundtables
The dialogue continued with five thematic roundtables addressing:
- Urban Resilience and Climate-Responsive Development
- Climate Finance
- Just and Inclusive Transition
- Water, Food, Nature and Circularity
- Innovation, Technology and Data
Evaluations of the discussions were presented to participants, highlighting key priorities and challenges. A comprehensive report consolidating the findings, alongside the Joint Declaration, will be finalized during COP31 in Antalya in November 2026.
Connecting Local Action with the COP31 Agenda
Gaziantep, alongside Muğla, serves as one of two regional hubs bringing together stakeholders from neighboring provinces to strengthen local participation in the COP31 preparatory process.
The dialogue provided a platform for municipal leaders and institutional stakeholders to exchange experiences, identify shared priorities, and strengthen cooperation, reinforcing the importance of local governments in translating international climate commitments into action.
