Murat Kurum, the Turkish climate change minister and host of the upcoming Cop31, emphasized that wealthy nations should allocate significantly more resources to combat climate change than the 5% of GDP they plan to spend on defense. He stated that addressing the climate crisis is crucial for global security. Kurum also noted that the world is already transitioning away from fossil fuels, suggesting that indirect measures may be more effective than direct commitments at the upcoming summit in Antalya.
At a pre-Cop meeting in Fiji, Kurum highlighted the urgent need for action, as a recent UN report indicated that global temperatures could rise beyond the Paris Agreement's target. While he and Australian officials supported a global goal for increased reliance on electricity, the challenge of phasing out fossil fuels remains contentious, with some countries opposing explicit commitments to reduce fossil fuel use.