Türkiye has officially designated Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum as president of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, formalizing the country's role as host of the major 2026 global summit.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a presidential circular published in the Official Gazette appointing Kurum to lead COP31, along with the 21st session of the Kyoto Protocol Conference of the Parties and the 8th session of the Paris Agreement Conference of the Parties. The appointment grants Kurum authority to direct negotiations and organize the conference, which will take place November 9-20, 2026, at the EXPO grounds in Antalya.

Under the directive, all preparation, organization and implementation processes will be coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. All relevant government institutions and organizations will participate in coordination with the ministry according to guidance from the COP31 president.

The circular establishes that Kurum will allocate necessary authority and task distribution for conducting negotiations and organizing the conference. Budget planning for preparation and execution will be handled by relevant institutions and organizations under presidential directive.