The team of the President of COP 31 UNFCCC, comprising 25 members and responsible for formulating key decisions for the forthcoming climate conference, paid an official visit to Moscow on July 8–10 at the invitation of Ruslan Edelgeriyev.
During the visit, a bilateral meeting between the Aide to the President of Russia and the Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change of the Republic of Turkiye, as well as expanded Russian‑Turkish consultations on the climate agenda, took place at the Presidential Executive Office. The Russian delegation included officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Economic Development, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside representatives of the Russian business community.
Opening the meeting, Ruslan Edelgeriyev noted the traditionally constructive nature of the Russian‑Turkish dialogue and expressed appreciation to the Turkish delegation for its willingness to engage in an open discussion of key issues on the international climate agenda. The Presidential Aide underscored the particular significance of the forthcoming conference in Antalya (scheduled for November 9–20, 2026), adding that its outcomes will largely determine the future trajectory of the international climate process.
Murat Kurum, in turn, highlighted Russia’s special role in securing Turkiye’s current presidency of COP 31 UNFCCC, emphasising that the diplomatic efforts of the Russian delegation led by Ruslan Edelgeriyev were among the decisive factors in Turkiye’s election to this position. The President of COP 31 UNFCCC expressed confidence that the joint endeavours of both states will lay the foundation for developing balanced decisions that will shape the future of the global climate process for years to come.
The sides discussed a broad range of issues pertaining to the forthcoming conference in Antalya. Ruslan Edelgeriyev drew particular attention to the necessity of adhering to the principle of taking national circumstances into account and recognising the sovereign right of states to determine their own path of low‑carbon development. The Russian delegation reaffirmed to the team of the President of COP 31 UNFCCC its principled position regarding the unacceptability of imposing financial obligations on developing countries and countries with economies in transition, which may create additional barriers to their economic growth.
When discussing preparations for COP 31 UNFCCC, participants in the talks underscored the importance of signing an intergovernmental agreement on the sidelines of the conference concerning the mutual recognition of climate projects and certification, validation, and verification bodies. Ruslan Edelgeriyev noted that such an instrument would facilitate the harmonisation of the regulatory frameworks of both states and create favourable conditions for the advancement of practical Russian‑Turkish cooperation.
A separate topic of discussion was the countering of unilateral restrictive measures in the climate sphere. The Special Presidential Representative for Climate and Water Resources emphasised that employing the climate agenda as a tool of trade pressure is at odds with the spirit of multilateral cooperation and undermines trust among negotiation participants. The COP 31 UNFCCC President expressed solidarity with this stance and emphasised the necessity of continued joint efforts to counter such practices.
The meeting participants exchanged views on energy transformation issues. The Russian Presidential Aide highlighted the pivotal role of natural gas as a transition fuel, capable of reducing emissions while maintaining energy security and the affordability of energy resources. Both sides also noted the importance of enhancing energy efficiency and promoting energy conservation as priority areas of climate policy.
A substantial portion of the talks was devoted to climate change adaptation. The sides recognised the need to expand regional cooperation, including through the implementation of joint projects in water resource management, combating desertification, and preserving biodiversity. Murat Kurum expressed interest in developing bilateral initiatives for cleaning up the Black Sea using modern technologies. Ruslan Edelgeriyev underscored the importance of creating conditions for the participation of businesses from both countries in climate projects.
Following the talks, the Russian Presidential Aide and the President of COP 31 UNFCCC agreed to continue their engagement within the framework of preparations for the conference in Antalya and coordinated plans for further consultations on key areas of climate cooperation. Russia reaffirmed its readiness to provide comprehensive support to Turkiye’s presidency in developing balanced decisions that reflect the interests of all participants in the negotiation process.