Antalya, better known for its beach resorts, is about to swap sunbeds for summit seating. From November 9 to 20, the Turkish city will jointly host the UN Climate Change Conference COP31 alongside Australia, and organisers expect more than 100,000 delegates and attendees from 193 countries to descend on the city.
Türkiye is branding its presidency an "Implementation COP." Samed Ağırbaş, the summit's High-Level Climate Champion and president of the Zero Waste Foundation, told Daily Sabah that the goal is not to invent fresh targets but to actually deliver on the more than 80 decisions adopted at climate conferences over the past three decades. In his words, the world does not need new promises — it needs action on the ground.
Zero waste sits at the heart of the Turkish presidency. The COP31 Action Agenda includes initiatives to prevent food waste, expand reuse and recycling through circular economy policies, and fold waste-related methane cuts into countries' updated climate plans. Ağırbaş flagged plastic pollution as a mounting emergency, pointing to ocean plastic, cities overwhelmed by waste and microplastics now posing a direct risk to human health. Cutting plastic use, tackling pollution, accelerating electrification and speeding the transition away from fossil fuels are the summit's headline priorities.
Climate finance and fairness between rich and developing nations will also loom large. Ağırbaş argued for an inclusive approach that leaves no one behind, noting the gap between countries debating the cost of obesity drugs and those where millions still lack clean water and food. He connected climate change directly to displacement, citing desertification and soil erosion destroying farmland and forcing people from their homes.
Organisers are casting a wide net for input. Under Environment Minister Murat Kurum, the presidency has run regional consultations with civil society groups, young people, women, universities, municipalities and other non-state actors, with plans to fold those views into the diplomatic process. Türkiye is also working on a permanent platform in Istanbul dedicated to practical climate solutions.
For travellers, the takeaway is practical: if you were dreaming of an Antalya escape in mid-November, expect a very busy city. With six figures of attendees arriving over nearly two weeks, hotels, restaurants and transport in and around the conference zone will be under pressure, and prices are likely to reflect the surge. Consider shifting a trip to early November or late in the month, or base yourself in nearby coastal towns and day-trip in. On the flip side, the summit's focus on waste reduction and sustainability is likely to leave a legacy of greener practices in a city whose tourism economy depends on keeping its coastline clean — something every future visitor stands to benefit from.
Anyone heading to Türkiye around the conference dates should book accommodation well ahead and watch for road closures or security measures around the venue.
