Register for free and continue reading Join our growing army of changemakers and get access to our free content Already have an account? Login here Kurum stated he sees COP31 as a “platform for solutions – one that responds to the challenges of cities, makes the capacity of local governments visible, and turns words into concrete results.” The summit is currently running a consultation with stakeholders on key outcomes that the summit can deliver. COP31 is set to provide platforms to share best practices on resilience within cities, with Türkiye sharing its own experiences. At the summit, the Presidency has said it will sign an agreement with UN-Habitat to establish Istanbul as a regional hub for co-operation around urban planning, housing and land management. This centre will serve more than 24 countries across Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia. It is intended to advance joint projects and connect urban development initiatives with international financing. This news follows an announcement by the COP31 Presidency that it had formed a new partnership with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to implement solutions to key energy challenges, including data access, clean cooking and emissions for waste. Türkiye as a model for resilience Kurum serves as Türkiye’s Minister for Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, where he led the ministry’s reconstruction effort to rebuild almost half a million homes across the region affected by the 2023 earthquake. Kurum noted that during the Turkish reconstruction efforts, the country had expanded its definition of resilience, creating a new roadmap “built on the principles of efficiency, environmentally friendly buildings, zero-waste [and] smart systems management.” Around 75% of global energy consumption occurs in cities, with 70% of greenhouse gas emissions emanating from them. Through this new building concept, developments in Hatay, Türkiye, have reduced their energy