ANKARA – Environment Minister Murat Kurum said Wednesday that Turkey will finalize key decisions ahead of COP30, including its updated national climate pledge.
Speaking at a climate coordination meeting in Ankara, Kurum warned of worsening global conditions.
Wildlife populations have dropped 73% in 50 years, and nearly 1 million species face extinction, he said.
Freshwater supplies are shrinking, with 75% of the world’s population living under water stress. Kurum said humanity produces 5,900 tons of plastic waste every 10 minutes, while 1 billion meals are discarded daily.
More than 11,000 climate-related disasters have been recorded in the past five decades, causing 2 million deaths and $3.64 trillion in losses. In Turkey, floods, wildfires and droughts have intensified.
Kurum said the country sees nearly 1,500 floods annually. He cited a record temperature of 50.5°C in Silopi, Şırnak, as evidence of extreme weather.