Towards COP31: The Role of the Private Sector in Climate Action

Distinguished Participants,

Representatives of the private sector, business associations, public institutions, UN entities, and distinguished partners,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to this first Round Table on Climate Action under the “Towards COP31: The Role of the Private Sector in the Climate Action Agenda” series.

I would like to sincerely thank the Zero Waste Foundation, the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, and UN Global Compact Türkiye for their partnership and leadership in convening this important platform.

Today’s meeting is particularly significant because it marks the beginning of a structured private sector multi-stakeholder dialogue process leading up to COP31. This is the first of a series of three round tables that will bring together private sector companies, business associations, public authorities, and the UN system to identify concrete solutions, strengthen partnerships, and contribute to an ambitious and action-oriented COP31 agenda.

Dear Participants;

As we move toward COP31, the global context could not be more urgent. Climate change is no longer a future risk; it is a present and systemic challenge affecting economies, societies, supply chains, cities, food systems, water security, and livelihoods across the world.

At the same time, we are witnessing a rapidly evolving global policy landscape. The implementation of the Paris Agreement, the outcomes of the Global Stocktake, and increasing expectations around decarbonization, sustainable finance, climate disclosure, resilience, and green transformation are fundamentally reshaping economic systems and business models globally.

In this context, the role of the private sector is central. The private sector is not only a stakeholder in the climate agenda; it is a key driver of innovation, investment, technology, financing, and scalable solutions. Without strong private sector engagement, it will not be possible to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals, or deliver a just and inclusive transition.

Importantly, climate action must also be guided by the principle of Leaving No One Behind; the core commitment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy must be fair, inclusive, and people-centred. The private sector has a critical role here, not only in reducing emissions and mobilizing investment, but also in creating decent green jobs, supporting SMEs and entrepreneurs, building resilient supply chains, advancing gender equality, and ensuring that vulnerable communities and young people benefit from the opportunities of the green transition.

This is also fully aligned with the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Strategy and the broader UN development system reform agenda, which emphasize integrated and system-wide approaches that connect climate action with sustainable development, resilience, financing, and social inclusion. Increasingly, the focus of the international community is shifting from commitments to implementation, from dialogue to delivery.

Dear Participants;

Türkiye is uniquely positioned to play an important leadership role in this transition. As a rapidly developing economy with a dynamic and globally connected private sector, Türkiye has significant potential to contribute to global climate ambition while advancing sustainable and resilient growth domestically.

The evolving national policy framework, including Türkiye’s Climate Law process, Nationally Determined Contributions, long-term development priorities, green transformation agenda, sustainable finance efforts, and alignment with international climate disclosure and reporting standards, all create important momentum for transformative action.

At the same time, Türkiye’s private sector is already demonstrating leadership across renewable energy, sustainable manufacturing, circular economy practices, resilient infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, green finance, and climate technologies.

However, scaling this transformation requires stronger partnerships, enabling policy frameworks, increased climate finance, technology transfer, innovation, and closer collaboration between public institutions, international organizations, business associations, and the private sector.

This is precisely why this round table series is so important.

Dear partners;

The objective is not only to exchange views, but to generate actionable recommendations, identify scalable solutions, and contribute concrete private sector inputs to the COP31 process. We hope these discussions will help strengthen thematic pledges, mobilize partnerships, and support implementation-oriented outcomes ahead of COP31.

Today’s discussions on mitigation and decarbonization, adaptation and resilience, climate finance, and corporate climate reporting are especially timely. These are among the defining issues shaping the future competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of economies worldwide.

Importantly, adaptation and resilience must be treated with the same urgency as mitigation. The impacts of climate change including droughts, floods, extreme heat, water scarcity, and supply chain disruptions, are already affecting businesses and communities across the region. Investing in resilience is therefore not only an environmental necessity, but also an economic imperative.

Likewise, climate finance remains one of the most critical enablers of transformation. Mobilizing investment at scale, strengthening blended finance mechanisms, expanding green financial instruments, and aligning financial systems with climate goals will be essential for accelerating low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathways.

The UN system in Türkiye is committed to supporting a whole-of-economy approach that strengthens coherence, partnerships, and delivery ahead of COP31. In this regard, this initiative is closely linked with broader UN-led flagship efforts in Türkiye, including the Climate Finance Policy Dialogue, Municipal Roundtable Series, Inclusive Climate Action Forum, Food Systems and Climate Forum, and South-South and Triangular Cooperation initiatives. Together, these platforms aim to connect national priorities with global climate ambition and translate dialogue into concrete action.

Dear Participants;

Ultimately, COP31 must not only be a negotiation milestone, but it must also become an implementation milestone focused on delivery, partnerships, finance, and tangible transformation.

The private sector has a critical role to play in making this possible.

I hope today’s discussions will help strengthen collaboration, generate innovative ideas, and contribute to a more ambitious, resilient, and inclusive climate agenda for Türkiye and beyond.

I thank you once again for your participation and wish you highly productive discussions.

Teşekkürler!