Turkey's designated host for Cop31 is calling on wealthy nations to increase climate spending beyond the 5% of GDP that NATO members commit to defence budgets. Murat Kurum, the Cop31 president-designate, framed climate action as a security imperative at a Pacific pre-Cop summit in Fiji. "The climate issue is the security issue," Kurum stated, arguing that wealthy countries must prioritize climate investment over military spending.
However, Kurum's remarks contained a notable caveat on fossil fuels. He avoided committing to repeating language from previous climate agreements that called for nations to "transition away from fossil fuels," which scientists identify as the primary driver of the climate crisis. This hedging appears likely to generate disagreement during the upcoming Cop31 talks in Turkey next month.
The comments reflect tension between climate ambition and political feasibility at international negotiations. While Kurum emphasized the urgency of climate spending relative to defence budgets, his reluctance to endorse continued fossil fuel transition language suggests potential friction with countries and coalitions pushing for stronger commitments. The previous agreement to transition away from fossil fuels marked a historic moment in climate diplomacy, and any weakening of that language could affect the scope and force of outcomes at Cop31.
As host, Turkey holds significant influence over the summit's agenda and the strength of final agreements. Kurum's dual messaging, emphasizing climate spending while hedging on fossil fuel commitments, signals early positioning ahead of negotiations that will shape global climate policy.