Turkey ranks second worldwide in carbon-accredited airports, minister says at COP31

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu attended the Airport Carbon Accreditation Awards Ceremony in Antalya on the sidelines of COP31. The event took place at the Türkiye Pavilion in the blue zone of the UN Climate Change Conference.

Uraloğlu said 45 airports operated by the State Airports Authority (DHMI) have received carbon accreditation certificates at different levels. He added that DHMI has become the airport operator with the most accredited airports in Europe.

“This threshold will open either to humanity’s greatest failure or its greatest transformation.”

The minister highlighted top-level certification achievements at Istanbul and Antalya airports. He said significant progress has been made under the Zero Carbon Airport Project.

Uraloğlu warned that climate change deeply affects daily life and causes loss of life and negative economic outcomes. He described humanity as standing at a threshold that will lead either to its greatest failure or its greatest transformation.

He said Turkey is working toward the 2053 Net Zero Emission target under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership. He stressed that reducing aviation’s environmental impact and increasing energy efficiency are shared responsibilities.

Uraloğlu also said TÜBİTAK-MAM cooperation is analyzing airports’ vulnerability to climate change, identifying risks, and developing mitigation and adaptation measures.

The minister noted that aviation plays a strategic role in global economic growth, trade and cultural relations, and bringing societies closer together.