- "Science Diplomacy on the Road to COP31: Academy Launch" was held at the Council of Higher Education.

- Council of Higher Education President Erol Özvar: "We are launching a comprehensive science diplomacy initiative that will connect all 208 universities in Türkiye with universities and research centers around the world."

- "Türkiye's message to the world at COP31 is clear: In the fight against climate change, our strongest foundation is science, our most effective method is cooperation, and our most enduring legacy will be the solutions we develop together."

- "According to the GreenMetric 2025 results, Türkiye ranks first in the world for the number of universities placed among the global top 500."

- As part of the COP31 preparations, all universities in Türkiye have been integrated into the process, and the COP-SCIENCE platform has been established to strengthen international academic collaboration.

August 4, 2026

Council of Higher Education President Erol Özvar announced that Türkiye has launched a comprehensive academic participation model that will bring the scientific expertise of the country's higher education system together with international partnerships during its COP31 Presidency, stating: "As part of the COP31 process, we are launching a comprehensive science diplomacy initiative that will connect all 208 universities in Türkiye with universities and research centers across the world."

Speaking at the "Science Diplomacy on the Road to COP31: Academy Launch" held at the Council of Higher Education Conference Hall, Özvar stated that, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye will assume the COP31 Presidency, placing the country at the center of global climate diplomacy.

He noted that COP31 and the World Leaders Summit, to be held in Antalya, will position Türkiye as a leader in advancing climate action from dialogue to consensus and from consensus to implementation. He emphasized that Türkiye's higher education system will play an active role in this process through its scientific expertise, qualified human capital, and capacity to develop solutions.

Özvar explained that the collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has expanded academic participation beyond individual initiatives. Under the coordination of the Council of Higher Education, a comprehensive model has been established that connects all 208 universities in Türkiye with universities, research centers, and academic networks worldwide. He stated that university research projects, technological innovations, university-industry collaborations, entrepreneurial initiatives, and international partnerships will all become part of the COP31 preparation process, with the ultimate goal of transforming universities' scientific achievements into long-term international collaborations.

- "No University in Türkiye Is Left Out of the COP31 Process"

Özvar announced that a vice rector at every university in Türkiye has been appointed as the institution's COP31 Coordinator, adding: "Today, there is not a single university in Türkiye that remains outside the COP31 process."

He said universities are expected to submit information on both ongoing and completed research projects and technological solutions, while university-industry partnerships, entrepreneurial activities, and international collaborations will also be incorporated into the process.

According to Özvar, COP31 will unite expertise from different academic disciplines around ten priority themes, including clean energy, green industry, zero waste, climate-resilient cities, food security, health, and education. He stressed that addressing climate change requires contributions not only from engineering and the natural sciences but also from social sciences, law, economics, education, communication, and the arts.

- Green Transformation Is Reshaping Higher Education

Özvar also highlighted universities' work in sustainability and environmental responsibility, noting that the Council of Higher Education and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change have long collaborated on initiatives related to zero waste, energy and water efficiency, environmentally friendly transportation, and sustainable campuses. He stated that these collaborations have enabled universities to implement innovative sustainability projects on their campuses and share successful practices with society. Referring to the GreenMetric 2025 rankings, Özvar reported that 6 Turkish universities ranked among the world's top 100, 21 universities entered the top 200, and 54 universities placed within the top 500. He emphasized that Türkiye ranks first globally in the number of universities represented in the world's top 500.

Özvar said that the Council views the green and digital transitions as complementary processes. Universities have introduced new academic programs in areas such as renewable energy, sustainability management, environmental and resource management, climate change, sustainable agriculture, and food systems, while courses, certificate programs, and micro-credentials are being used to strengthen students' green skills. He added that campuses are being transformed into living laboratories that continuously monitor and improve their performance in energy use, water consumption, waste management, and carbon emissions.

- COP-SCIENCE Platform Established

Özvar announced the launch of the COP-SCIENCE platform to strengthen international academic cooperation. The platform allows universities, research centers, academic networks, and researchers from around the world to join through an English-language application system.

He emphasized that Türkiye has developed a strong higher education cooperation network stretching from the Balkans and the Turkic World to Africa, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Through joint and dual-degree programs, student and faculty mobility, research partnerships, and international joint universities established abroad, Türkiye's global influence in higher education continues to grow. Özvar also noted that Türkiye currently hosts approximately 380,000 international students from 198 countries, ranking sixth in the world in terms of international student enrollment.

He announced that the Council of Higher Education Pavilion at COP31 will showcase Türkiye's higher education and research capacity on the international stage. Scientists from Türkiye and abroad will present their research, establish new research teams, and develop collaborative project ideas. Highlighting the role of science diplomacy in building lasting academic ties through joint research, data sharing, and researcher mobility, Özvar stated that support for collaborative research projects, researcher exchanges, and institutional partnerships will continue beyond COP31.

He called on university rectors to bring their institutions' scientific expertise into the COP31 process, strengthen international academic partnerships, and actively engage students in climate-focused initiatives.

- A Call to Young Researchers

Özvar urged universities to align their strongest scientific and technological work with COP31 priorities, establish new international partnerships, and make students active participants in the process.

Addressing young researchers directly, he emphasized that the future of the fight against climate change will be shaped by knowledge, courage, and innovative ideas, inviting students to contribute through their research, projects, and technological solutions.

He concluded by noting that the initiative launched through the Academy Launch is intended to extend well beyond the conference itself, evolving into long-term collaborative research projects, researcher mobility, and lasting international academic partnerships.

The event was attended by Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, university rectors, and representatives of COP31 stakeholder institutions and organizations.

As part of the "Science Diplomacy on the Road to COP31: Academy Launch", participants were introduced to the traditional Turkish art of ebru (paper marbling) through a live demonstration by Canan Kırıköz, an instructor from the Duygu Orak Art Center, at an exhibition stand set up in the entrance hall of the Council of Higher Education Conference Hall.

An artwork created by Duygu Orak, founder of the art center, incorporating the COP31 logo into an ebru design, was presented by Erol Özvar to Minister Murat Kurum.

During the closed session of the program, Minister Kurum and Council of Higher Education President Özvar answered questions from university rectors.