Minister Kurum: Türkiye's vision of resilient cities will inspire the world at COP31

Turkish Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum, designated president of COP31, said Turkey’s vision for resilient cities will serve as an inspiration to the world at the summit. He said the conference will also showcase Turkey’s “construction mobilization of the century,” the large-scale rebuilding program launched after the 2023 earthquakes. The remarks position urban resilience and post-disaster reconstruction as central themes of Turkey’s COP31 presidency. Kurum’s dual role as minister and summit president ties the climate agenda directly to Turkey’s domestic rebuilding effort. What to watch next is how concretely Turkey shapes the COP31 agenda around resilient cities and whether the reconstruction program draws international financing or partnership commitments.