Turkish Civil Society Seeking Its Role Ahead of COP31

As COP31 approaches, the critical question for Turkish civil society is whether we remain observers of the process or become one of the actors shapng its direction.

With COP31 scheduled to take place in Türkiye this year, Turkish stakeholders are actively examining how they can play a more meaningful and effective role. Having followed COP processes for many years, I believe it is useful to share some fundamental points for those who are newly engaging in the process or are not yet fully familiar with COP mechanisms.

After numerous conversations with people who are involved in or simply curious about the COP process, I have come to realize that it is often viewed as little more than a summit lasting two weeks. In reality, it represents a year-round negotiation cycle shaped by technical meetings, informal consultations and coalition building long before delegates arrive at the COP. It has been a long-term journey for those of us in the climate space. Each year during these past 30 years has provided opportunities to build upon the previous one. Every conference serves as a preparatory stage that hands the baton to the next. For this reason, a clear understanding of the process dynamics and mechanisms are essential to creating meaningful impact.

At their core, COPs are international negotiation platforms where countries reach joint decisions through consensus to limit global temperature rise while also addressing issues such as climate adaptation policies, climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building. The agreements reached and decisions adopted at these conferences directly influence national climate policies. Although final decisions are taken by governments, civil society organizations participate in the process with observer status and are able to create significant influence. Civil society participation is organized through official constituencies representing different segments of society. To note, “civil society” is used in an inclusive way encompassing all nine major groups defined by the UN.

The Action Agenda that emerged alongside the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015 also seeks to accelerate multi-stakeholder cooperation on concrete implementation in areas discussed at COPs and to ensure that these efforts are reflected in national climate plans in the most appropriate way.

The Role of Civil Society under Observer Status

Civil society organizations can observe meetings, disseminate discussions to wider audiences, submit policy recommendations, organize side events and engage directly with delegations to influence formal decisions.

Within the UNFCCC system, each Major Group is connected to international coalitions. Some of these networks have worked for many years to influence formal processes and have achieved significant progress. At COP31, these same groups will aim to advance their achievements even further. These networks develop common policy messages, in some cases help shape decisions that matter to their constituencies, monitor transparency in negotiations, advocate for a better future and build platforms for global solidarity. For example, international coalitions such as the Climate Action Network mobilize hundreds of organizations around shared demands, creating a collective voice in the negotiations. This collective voice is far more powerful and effective than the efforts of individual organizations acting alone.

The question that now needs to be addressed is not whether Turkish civil society will participate in COP31, but how. Although a small number of Turkish NGOs are already part of international networks, overall representation remains limited. From the perspective of Turkish civil society, is it sufficient to maintain a similar level of participation observed during previous COPs at COP31? What level of influence is being sought? Will organizations seek accreditation with NGO status in order to participate more directly in the process?

How and Where Can Civil Society Exert Influence in COP Meeting Spaces?

COP meetings are essentially divided into two main areas with different access rules: the Blue Zone and the Green Zone.

Stocktaking Plenary

Delegates attend the stocktaking plenary (Photo: © UN Climate Change - Kiara Worth)

The direction of international climate negotiations is largely determined in the Blue Zone. It is the official negotiation space where decisions are shaped. During the COPs, all events held within the designated Blue Zone venue are conducted in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the United Nations. Access to this area is restricted to those holding a special accreditation badge. All UN member states are represented by their Party Delegations who negotiate the climate agreements. Constituencies with access to the Blue Zone can also take the floor during plenary sessions and technical negotiations to present their perspectives during official negotiations.

Baku to Belem roadmap and IHLEG. Participants during the event (Photo: © UN Climate Change - Kiara Worth)

The Green Zone covers a broader area where participants can freely attend events organized within this space. It is typically located adjacent to the Blue Zone. However, depending on the host country’s security regulations and local priorities, independent meetings and demonstrations may also take place in different parts of the host city far away from the Blue Zone.

Within the Green Zone panels, constituencies seek to influence outcomes of the negotiations through side events, exhibitions, closed-door meetings and advocacy actions organized in official and pavilions. .At the same time, activities for children and youth, public announcements, protests, artistic performances, and music programs contribute to a more inclusive and dynamic atmosphere, bringing the climate agenda to a wider audience.

Participants during the “Youth-led Climate Forum Closure - Headline Event”. (Photo: © UN Climate Change - Zô Guimarães)

Protesters during the “Launch of Don't Gas the South and Don't Gas Latin America". (Photo: © UN Climate Change - Zô Guimarães)

Action Adaptation Finance Now. (Photo: © UN Climate Change - Zô Guimarães)

Secretary-General's Youth Roundtable

Participants during the UN Secretary-General’s Youth Roundtable (Photo: © UN Climate Change - Kiara Worth)

In international climate negotiations, the primary arena of influence is not the Green Zone but the Blue Zone. Civil society’s real impact is strongest inside the official rooms where state delegations conduct negotiations. While generating public pressure, producing scientific knowledge and ensuring social visibility are important tools, they may not be sufficient to shape negotiation texts. Access to the spaces where policy texts are negotiated is a fundamental condition for civil society to directly influence the outcomes. Organizations present in the Blue Zone can engage directly with delegations, contribute to draft texts and advocate for issues prioritized within their constituencies. For this reason, protecting long-established accreditation rights and expanding access to official negotiation spaces is of critical importance. The true strength of civil society lies in its ability to connect public demand outside with diplomacy inside.

Host countries may at times tend to restrict access to official spaces due to security or organizational considerations. Yet at a time when the climate crisis is deepening, access to negotiation arenas should be expanded rather than limited. Remaining outside the Blue Zone means being excluded from the processes where decision texts are shaped, thus significantly reducing civil society’s influence. Safeguarding the accreditation and access rights that rights-based organizations have secured through years of effort is therefore essential.

At this critical juncture, COP31 represents an important threshold for civil society. In past COPs, Turkish civil society organizations have largely participated in government delegations with Party badges. This prevents them from participation in closed meetings organized by their own constituencies such as environmental NGOs or businesses. They have mainly organized side events within the national pavilion. In the coming period they may have the opportunity to assume a more defined role by developing policy proposals, strengthening ties with international networks, engaging in technical dialogue with official delegations, and contributing knowledge and expertise to negotiation processes. By building common positions on issues negotiated in the Blue Zone such as the gender action plan, fossil fuel phase-out, just transition, deforestation, climate finance, and loss and damage, Turkish civil society organizations could transform COP31 from merely a hosting experience into a lasting visibility opportunity within global climate governance.

The fundamental question today is whether civil society organizations in Türkiye are willing to become one of the key stakeholders capable of influencing the direction of international climate negotiations.