On the road to COP31: UN Türkiye connects with students on climate solutions

“Climate change today is not only an environmental issue; it is an economic issue, a security issue, and a defining challenge for our shared future,” said Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Türkiye. 

On the road to COP31, the United Nations in Türkiye is engaging with academia and students, as Atılım University hosted a lecture by Dr. Ahonsi titled “From Climate Crisis to Climate Action,” bringing together faculty, students and university leadership in Ankara.

Organized by the Faculty of Engineering and the Energy and Climate Change Student Community, the event provided a platform to discuss the growing urgency of the climate crisis and the opportunities emerging from the global transition to clean energy.

In his keynote address, Dr. Ahonsi emphasized the growing urgency of the climate crisis, underscoring that keeping the 1.5°C goal within reach is becoming increasingly difficult. Echoing the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, he stressed that this does not mean giving up, but rather acting with greater urgency to ensure that any overshoot is as small, as short and as safe as possible.

Highlighting the vulnerabilities created by fossil fuel dependence, he noted that global energy systems remain exposed to geopolitical shocks, price volatility and inequality, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable.

At the same time, he emphasized that a historic opportunity exists to shift towards renewable energy, describing it as the fastest path to energy, economic and national security. “There are no price spikes for sunlight. No embargoes on the wind,” he told students. 

Dr. Ahonsi stressed that the global climate agenda is entering a new phase — moving from negotiation to implementation — and underscored the importance of COP31, which Türkiye will host, as a milestone moment to translate commitments into concrete results.

He noted that Türkiye aims to position COP31 as an “Implementation COP,” focusing on delivering practical, scalable and impactful solutions across key areas, including clean energy transition, zero waste and methane reduction, climate-resilient cities, green industrial transformation and stronger implementation mechanisms.

The UN Country Team in Türkiye, he added, is supporting this effort through a coordinated, system-wide approach, working closely with the Government and partners to help deliver an ambitious, inclusive and action-oriented COP31.

Engaging young people was a central theme of the event. Addressing the students directly, Dr. Ahonsi emphasized that the climate transition is not only technological but also generational.

“You are not just witnesses to this transformation. You are its architects,” he said, encouraging students to align their studies, careers and innovation efforts with the needs of a changing world.

“And it is about you. This transition will be shaped by your ideas, your skills, and your courage to do things differently. You are the generation that will design the solutions, challenge outdated systems, and turn innovation into impact. The choices you make today — what you study, what you question, what you build — will define not only your future, but also our collective future” the Resident Coordinator emphasized.

During an interactive discussion following the speech, students raised questions on issues ranging from artificial intelligence and climate solutions to water scarcity and regional security. Dr. Ahonsi highlighted that climate change can act as a driver of instability, pointing to water-related tensions in different regions, while stressing that cooperation remains key to preventing conflict and addressing shared challenges.

At the conclusion of the event, the President of Atılım University Prof. Serkan Eryılmaz presented Dr. Ahonsi with a certificate from the TEMA Foundation, indicating that a tree had been planted in his name in appreciation of his contribution.

The event forms part of the United Nations’ broader outreach efforts in Türkiye to engage universities, young people and stakeholders in the lead-up to COP31, fostering dialogue, raising awareness and encouraging collective action on climate priorities.