Enviro News Asia, Antalya — Türkiye has appointed Samed Ağırbaş as Climate High-Level Champion ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), scheduled to take place in Antalya in November 2026.
The appointment was announced by COP31 President-Designate and Türkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, who expressed confidence that Ağırbaş would contribute significantly to the success of the COP31 process.
In his role, Ağırbaş will focus on advancing climate action led by non-state actors, including cities, regions, businesses, investors, and civil society organizations. His work will complement intergovernmental negotiations under the UN Climate Convention and the Paris Agreement, with an emphasis on practical, on-the-ground implementation.
Climate action by non-state actors is coordinated through the Global Climate Action Agenda and the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, which link voluntary initiatives with the formal UN climate process. Ağırbaş will carry out his mandate in close cooperation with the COP31 Presidency and COP30 Climate High-Level Champion Dan Ioschpe.
Ağırbaş currently serves as Chairman of the Zero Waste Foundation in Türkiye and President of the Zero Waste Forum. He has played a prominent role in promoting waste reduction, sustainable urban development, and youth entrepreneurship, including through his engagement with UN-Habitat and leadership roles within the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Youth Assembly.
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell highlighted Ağırbaş’ experience across multilateral, private, and philanthropic sectors, noting that this combination would support the delivery of practical climate solutions linked to public priorities such as health, energy security, economic growth, and living standards.
The appointment follows the momentum built at COP30, where the Global Climate Action Agenda mobilized hundreds of climate initiatives and investment commitments across sectors including energy, forests, food systems, cities, human development, and finance. These efforts aim to accelerate implementation and close the gap between climate commitments and real-world impact.
The Climate High-Level Champions role was established at COP21 in Paris in 2015 to strengthen collaboration between governments and non-state actors. Champions serve two-year terms and act as a bridge between national climate policy and broader societal action to support the goals of the Paris Agreement. (*)
