Over the past few months, preparations have accelerated. Today, the conversation has evolved beyond "What is COP31?"to a more important question: "Are we ready for COP31?"
Because COP31 is much more than a summit that will begin in Antalya this November. The real process starts on the final day of the previous COP and is shaped by months of collaboration, scientific research, knowledge exchange, and the development of shared advocacy messages.
The success of the COP process depends not only on agreements reached between governments but also on how effectively scientific evidence, field experience, and local voices are represented in climate negotiations. For climate policies to deliver real impact, decision-making must be informed by practical experience and evidence from the ground.
How Can the Mediterranean's Voice Be Heard at COP31?
As one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, the Mediterranean must have a strong presence on the COP31 agenda. The fact that the conference will be hosted in Türkiye—a country at the heart of the Mediterranean Basin—creates a unique opportunity to bring regional challenges and solutions to the global stage.
The impacts of climate change are no longer future projections along Türkiye's coasts. Rising sea temperatures, the spread of non-native invasive species, shifts in fish populations, and increasing pressure on coastal ecosystems are now well documented through scientific research and directly observed in the field.
For this reason, COP31 has the potential to become not only a platform for global climate negotiations but also a critical forum for discussing the future of the Mediterranean.
Preparing for COP31 therefore requires more than following international climate negotiations. It also means ensuring that field experience, scientific knowledge, and the expertise of local communities become an integral part of the process.
At the Mediterranean Conservation Society (AKD), this principle guides our own preparations.
What Are We Doing on the Road to COP31?
As COP31 approaches, we are prioritising initiatives that strengthen the visibility of the ocean's role in addressing the climate crisis. By bringing together local governments, academia, civil society, the private sector, and coastal communities, we aim to build a shared platform for dialogue on the future of the Mediterranean.
Our objective is not simply to exchange knowledge but to think and act collectively. Together, we seek to address key questions, including:
- How much of our conservation commitments for 2030 can we realistically deliver?
- How can Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) be expanded and managed more effectively?
- How can local communities and diverse stakeholders become active participants in this transformation?
- How can nature conservation and sustainable development advance together in the fight against climate change?
Through this dialogue, we hope to contribute to a common Mediterranean perspective built upon experiences from different coastal regions and sectors ahead of COP31.
Why Are Marine Protected Areas Part of the Climate Solution?
Marine Protected Areas are often viewed solely as instruments for conserving biodiversity. However, we now know that well-managed MPAs are among the most effective nature-based solutions to climate change.
Healthy marine ecosystems support the recovery of fish populations, strengthen the livelihoods of coastal communities, and increase the resilience of ecosystems to a changing climate.
Yet designation alone is not enough. Effective management, long-term scientific monitoring, meaningful local participation, and sustainable financing are just as essential as establishing protected areas in the first place.
The Biggest Challenge for COP31: Implementation
In recent years, many commitments made during previous COP meetings have fallen short during implementation. For this reason, implementation is expected to become one of the defining themes of COP31.
The focus has shifted from setting new targets to ensuring that existing commitments are effectively translated into action. Climate finance, implementation capacity, and nature-based solutions have therefore become more important than ever.
This is precisely where our work across the Mediterranean becomes particularly relevant. Strengthening Marine Protected Areas, monitoring coastal ecosystems, supporting small-scale fisheries, and promoting science-based management all represent practical examples of climate adaptation already taking place.
COP31: More Than Hosting a Global Summit
Hosting COP31 represents an important opportunity for Türkiye. Yet the true value of this opportunity will not be measured solely by organising a successful international conference, but by the lasting outcomes it creates for nature.
At the Mediterranean Conservation Society, our goal is not simply to follow the COP31 process, but to contribute actively by ensuring that scientific knowledge, field experience, and local voices from across the Mediterranean are meaningfully represented throughout the discussions.
Because the climate crisis does not wait for conference calendars.
Neither should the solutions.
Real solutions are shaped not only in conference halls, but also at sea, along our coasts, and together with local communities.
And that is where the road to COP31 truly begins.