The Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA) has engaged the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Ghana to explore collaboration ahead of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), to be hosted by Türkiye in Antalya later this year.
The AC4NCA delegation, led by the Centre’s Global Lead, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, was received by the Deputy Head of Mission of the Turkish Embassy, H.E. Dilara Cesar.
The engagement was part of AC4NCA’s efforts to strengthen international partnerships and advance Africa’s priorities in global climate negotiations and climate action.
Discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration between AC4NCA and the Turkish Embassy, particularly around the Africa Climate Dialogue and the broader COP31 process.
Hon. Jinapor said the engagement offered an opportunity to build stronger connections between Africa’s climate priorities and Türkiye’s COP31 agenda.
“As Türkiye prepares to assume the Presidency of COP31, we see a valuable opportunity to strengthen the bridge between Africa’s climate priorities and the global climate agenda. We are particularly interested in understanding Türkiye’s priorities and exploring how African civil society organizations can contribute meaningfully to the COP31 process,” he said.
He added that Africa remains on the frontline of the climate crisis but also possesses significant potential to provide solutions to some of the challenges posed by climate change.
COP31 priorities
The Centre expressed interest in understanding the key priorities Türkiye intends to advance through its COP31 Presidency and exploring how African civil society organisations such as AC4NCA could contribute meaningfully to those priorities.
H.E. Dilara Cesar welcomed the engagement and expressed the Embassy’s openness to exploring areas of mutual interest.
She further noted that partnerships with civil society organisations could provide opportunities to strengthen practical climate action and broaden stakeholder participation in the COP31 process.
“We welcome the interest of AC4NCA in working with the Embassy and look forward to exploring areas of cooperation that are aligned with Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency priorities, particularly where there is an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and advance practical climate action,” H.E. Cesar said.
Africa Climate Dialogue
A key area discussed was the possibility of collaboration around the Africa Climate Dialogue, an initiative that seeks to provide a platform for advancing African perspectives on climate action and strengthening cooperation among stakeholders.
AC4NCA proposed exploring a partnership with the Turkish Embassy around the Dialogue and the broader COP31 process.
The Centre indicated that, following the meeting, it would be willing to develop a brief collaboration framework outlining possible areas of partnership, including engagement around the Africa Climate Dialogue and COP31.
AC4NCA also welcomed the Embassy’s guidance on areas of collaboration that align most closely with Türkiye’s priorities for its COP31 Presidency.
AC4NCA–Türkiye climate cooperation
The engagement comes at a significant time for global climate diplomacy, with COP31 expected to provide an important platform for advancing discussions on adaptation, resilience, climate finance and implementation.
For AC4NCA, strengthening cooperation between African stakeholders and Türkiye presents an opportunity to ensure that Africa’s climate priorities are given greater visibility within the international climate process.
The Centre believes Africa’s climate priorities and Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency can create an important platform for stronger international cooperation, particularly on adaptation, resilience, nature-based solutions, and climate finance.
The Centre further reiterated its commitment to working with the Embassy and other strategic partners to identify practical opportunities for African civil society participation in COP31 and to advance solutions that respond to the continent’s climate and development needs.
