COP31 Opens in Antalya Amid Greenwashing Accusations

Thousands of diplomats, corporate executives, and world leaders arrived in Antalya, Turkey, on Monday to begin the U.N. climate summit, known as COP31.

The Turkish government released a promotional video featuring forest mist and mountains to signal its role as a host. A narrator in the video asked how much longer the country could protect the air it breathed, stating that the answer now lies in Turkey.

Ümit Şahin, head of the climate change program at the Istanbul Policy Center, described the summit as a showcase for Turkey’s status as a serious middle power. He said the primary driver for hosting was prestige and the desire to add climate leadership to the country’s diplomatic portfolio.

Turkey ratified the Paris Agreement in 2021 and created a dedicated climate ministry after deadly wildfires and European trade taxes forced a policy review. Şahin noted that despite new action plans and strategies, the country lacks a real climate policy.

Critics point to the Zero Waste campaign, a signature environmental project aimed at recycling all waste materials. Şahin argued that Turkey imports more European plastic waste than any other nation but often burns or dumps it instead of recycling. He called the campaign the number one example of greenwashing and urged a ban on plastic waste imports to show sincerity.

Local activists are organizing a parallel conference to pressure global leaders. Çiğdem Özbaş, a volunteer at the People's Climate Summit, accused the government of stripping local protections and favoring business interests over farmers. She criticized summit sponsors Limak Holding and Sinpaş GYO, noting that Limak is expanding coal mines on ancient olive groves and Sinpaş poured concrete in a national park for a luxury resort.

Özlem Katısöz of the Turkey chapter of Climate Action Network Europe said hosting the summit creates an opening for civil society to hold the government accountable. She urged Turkey to improve its domestic climate policies to gain a credible voice in global discussions.