A Strong Message from İzmir to COP31

İzmir Metropolitan Municipality hosted a pioneering gathering ahead of COP31—set to take place on 9–20 November under Türkiye’s hosting—where young people directly contributed to climate policies. Organized with the contributions of Sosyal İklim Derneği (Social Climate Association) and in cooperation with the Turkish Healthy Cities Association and Çeşme Vizyon Ofisi (Çeşme Vision Office), the İzmir COP Youth Program was successfully completed with strong youth participation. Over the course of two days, participants addressed both local and global aspects of the climate crisis and developed solution proposals.
The voice of youth in the fight against the climate crisis is rising in İzmir. Prior to the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), which will be held in Antalya on 9–20 November under Türkiye’s hosting, the İzmir COP Youth Program was organized under the coordination of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, with contributions from Sosyal İklim Derneği and in cooperation with the Turkish Healthy Cities Association and Çeşme Vizyon Ofisi. Held at the historic Bıçakçı Han, the program stands out as the first example in Türkiye enabling youth to contribute to policymaking at the local level ahead of the conference. During the two-day event, participants evaluated İzmir’s climate agenda while also developing solutions with the potential to have a global impact.
Speaking at the opening, Prof. Dr. Pınar Okyay, Deputy Secretary General of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, stated: “We consider it highly valuable for our youth to take part directly in developing solutions to the climate crisis. This strong youth voice rising from İzmir will make significant contributions to the COP31 process both locally and globally.”

A joint declaration prepared
On the first day of the program, İzmir’s climate inventory was examined, alongside discussions on biodiversity and ecosystems. During the session titled “Climate 101 and the COP31 Process,” global climate policies and negotiation processes were presented, while İzmir Metropolitan Municipality’s climate initiatives at the city level were shared with participants.
Through the World Climate Simulation conducted later in the day, young participants experienced global negotiation processes under the facilitation of Sosyal İklim Derneği, testing decision-making mechanisms through different scenarios. The first day concluded with the insights gathered forming the basis for the collaborative work on the second day.
On the second day, sessions were held using the open space technology method, coordinated by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and facilitated by Sosyal İklim Derneği. Participants engaged in two rounds of discussions on topics they identified themselves and developed solutions to the climate crisis. At the end of the day, all proposals were compiled into a joint declaration.

Youth demands from İzmir to COP31
The program’s key outcome, titled “Youth Demands from İzmir to COP31,” was prepared through collective effort. Drawing on local experiences, the document aims to bring a youth perspective to international climate policies. This model—developed through the participatory and inclusive governance approach of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality—introduces a new framework in which young people are not merely listeners but active contributors and policy-makers. The methodological framework provided by the Social Climate Association also lays the groundwork for ensuring the sustainability of this process.

What is COP31?
COP31, to be held in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026, refers to the 31st session of the Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Hosted by Türkiye, the summit will be a major platform where critical decisions on global climate action are taken. Bringing together government representatives, experts, and civil society organizations from around the world, the conference will address global climate policies, emission reduction targets, and strategies to combat climate change. The proposals developed by young people in İzmir are also expected to contribute to this international process.

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