Investment and Finance Office and the International Investors Association (YASED) held the Investment Summit Ahead of COP31 at Ziraat Bank headquarters in the Istanbul Financial Center.
Positioned as a key platform on the road to COP31 in Antalya, the summit brought together public institutions, international financial institutions, and multinational companies to assess the policies and financing mechanisms needed to accelerate green investment in Türkiye.
In his opening remarks, YASED Chairman Ali Fuat Orhonoğlu cited YASED’s analysis showing that, between 2015 and 2024, COP host countries saw greenfield investment projects increase by approximately 50 percent and committed investment rise by 135 percent following the event. “Our priority is to turn this international visibility into lasting investment,” Orhonoğlu stated. YASED also launched its Extended Producer Responsibility Report at the summit.
Highlighting the importance of reducing dependence on energy imports, Ziraat Bank CEO Alpaslan Çakar noted that Türkiye’s strong governance, strategic location, and advanced financial system offer significant opportunities for international investors. He added that hosting COP31 could help translate these advantages into long-term partnerships and high-quality investments.
President of Climate Change and COP31 Chief Climate Diplomacy Officer Prof. Dr. Halil Hasar explained that COP31 aims to establish a framework that accelerates the ongoing climate transition, emphasizing the need for a global response based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
Addressing the summit, Investment and Finance Office President A. Burak Dağlıoğlu described hosting COP31, in line with the Türkiye Century vision under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as an opportunity to translate climate targets into concrete projects supported by international investment. He also highlighted the potential to advance Türkiye’s 2053 Net Zero target and build on its achievements in zero waste through international cooperation. “Our priority is to bring together Türkiye’s industrial base, skilled workforce, and strategic location with international capital and technology to attract high-value-added investments,” Dağlıoğlu stated. He added that, through the approach of “Moving Forward with Dialogue, Consensus, and Action,” COP31 would help turn climate commitments into investable projects and strengthen Türkiye’s position as a green investment hub.
Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change COP31 Special Representative Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Birpınar underscored that the way forward lies in reducing emissions as much as possible while adapting to a changing climate and building resilience to its impacts.
Joining the summit online, International Energy Agency Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol emphasized that electrification is key to addressing energy security risks and reducing emissions. He called on countries to commit to the “35-by-35” goal, proposed by the IEA as a key item on the COP31 agenda, which aims to increase electricity’s share of final energy consumption to 35 percent by 2035.
The summit also featured UNDP Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Nick René Hartmann as a guest speaker. The program continued with three panels focusing on sustainable industry, green energy and infrastructure, and the circular economy. The panel on green energy and infrastructure was moderated by Investment and Finance Office Vice President Bekir Polat.
As Türkiye prepares to host COP31, the summit underscored the country’s commitment to translating climate commitments into tangible investment partnerships and strengthening its position at the nexus of sustainability and investment.