Erdogan Highlights Gaza Ecocide and Climate Crisis at Antalya Summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a powerful opening address at the Cop31 climate conference in Antalya, linking the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza with the broader global climate emergency. Speaking on Wednesday, Erdogan described the situation in the Palestinian enclave as an instance of both genocide and ecocide. He noted that Gaza has faced a significant onslaught since October 2023, resulting in severe environmental damage.

The president detailed the physical toll on the region, stating that centuries-old olive trees had been cut down while soil and water sources became contaminated. He described cities as being reduced to massive piles of rubble. Erdogan further explained that recent heavy rainfall and flooding had worsened the humanitarian suffering, submerging tens of thousands of tents and shelters.

He painted a vivid picture of the conditions in the winter, noting that hundreds of thousands of residents, including many children without parents, were struggling to survive in floodwaters. Erdogan emphasized the need for an immediate end to the isolation of Gaza and called for the swift entry of humanitarian aid.

Shifting focus to the global stage, Erdogan characterized climate change as one of the deepest existential crises in human history. He used metaphors of a shared home to illustrate the fragility of the planet, stating that humanity has only one sky for a roof and one Earth for a garden. He argued that excessive consumption and greed are driving this crisis, urging leaders to leave behind a cleaner, greener, and fairer world for future generations.

A central theme of Erdogan’s speech was the financial responsibility of developed nations. He argued that while there is agreement on necessary actions, these are not being matched by sufficient funding or implementation. He called on wealthier countries to take a greater share of the burden in financing climate measures to tackle the crisis effectively.

Outgoing United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres also addressed the summit, warning that the slow international response has placed the world on a path toward destruction. Guterres stated that the climate crisis is outrunning global efforts, citing rising emissions and worsening disasters. He emphasized that science demands a harder fight and that fossil fuels must eventually disappear.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva, who was recently re-elected, spoke during the same session. He observed that the momentum for Cop31 had waned earlier in the year, with climate issues disappearing from global discourse in favor of discussions about weapons and tariffs. Da Silva warned against leaving the planet to the mercy of hegemonic struggles and called for renewed international solidarity.

Erdogan echoed these sentiments, highlighting how wars, crises, and poverty increase the need for cooperation. A recent United Nations report indicated that the world is on track to exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming limit agreed upon in the Paris Agreement. This year has already seen extreme heatwaves in Western Europe and a catastrophic glacier collapse in Nepal that killed more than 1,450 people.

The summit is taking place on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast from November 9 to November 20. It brings together 196 countries and the European Union. Negotiators are working toward an agreement to increase the share of electricity in global energy use and to restart stalled efforts to transition away from fossil fuels. The United States, the largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases, is absent from the talks for the second consecutive year following President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from climate cooperation in 2025.