Agenda
What is the Action Agenda, and how does it differ from the negotiations? The texts resulting from the negotiations are adopted by consensus amongst 197 parties and generally remain at a level acceptable to the most reluctant party. The Action Agenda, on the other hand, does not require consensus: it brings together concrete initiatives to which countries, cities, businesses, universities and civil society commit on a voluntary basis. This is where universities can truly make their contribution to the COP.
1. Zero Waste
Preventing waste generation, sorting at source and reintegrating materials into the economy. This is one of the themes that Türkiye emphasises most strongly on international platforms; it represents the practical implementation of the debate on the circular economy.
Within our university: campus waste, energy and water management activities, as well as initiatives to raise awareness of sustainable development, are led by the Zero Waste Unit.2. Oceans and Seas
Since the Industrial Revolution, the oceans have absorbed a large proportion of the carbon emitted and the excess heat accumulated in the climate system. This has resulted in rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, rising sea levels and the loss of ecosystems. The decarbonisation of maritime transport also falls under this theme.
Within our university: the University’s COP31 Coordination Office is based at the Maritime Vocational School; maritime transport, hydrography and oceanography are fields directly linked to this theme.3. Food Security
Drought, changes in rainfall patterns and heatwaves directly affect agricultural production. This theme covers the effects of climate change on access to food, price stability and rural livelihoods; reducing emissions specific to the agricultural sector is also on the agenda.
At our university: the event entitled ‘Türkiye in the Age of Global Transformation: Climate, Food Security and a Sustainable Future’, held on 23 September 2026, relates directly to this theme.4. Climate-Resilient Cities
More than half of the world’s population lives in cities, and the majority of emissions are produced in urban areas. This theme focuses both on reducing emissions from cities and on strengthening their resilience to risks such as flooding, heatwaves and water scarcity.
For universities: studies on urban heat islands, local authorities’ climate action plans, analysis of urban risks.5. Climate Implementation Bridge
A specific theme of COP31: it aims to bridge the gap between commitments and their implementation. Its objective is to establish the necessary links in terms of institutional capacity, technology and funding to ensure that Nationally Determined Contributions do not remain mere words on paper.
For universities: policy monitoring, implementation assessment, capacity-building programmes.6. Youth and Education
Involving the generation that will bear the consequences of climate policies for the longest time in decision-making processes and promoting climate literacy. Within the UNFCCC process, young people are represented by a separate group called YOUNGO.
A key area for universities: student participation, volunteering programmes, integration of climate-related content into study programmes, and student societies.7. Green Industrialisation
Reducing the carbon intensity of industrial production without compromising development. Hard-to-abate sectors, such as steel, cement and chemicals, are at the heart of this strand; the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism also falls within this framework.
For universities: sectoral impact analysis, calculation of compliance costs, university-industry cooperation projects.8. Clean Energy Transition
Transition of energy production from fossil fuels to renewable sources, and adaptation of grid and storage infrastructure to this transition. This is the most contentious topic of negotiation at the COPs, as it represents the main source of global emissions.
For universities: energy economics, the transition’s impact on employment, research into energy poverty.9. Rio Synergy
Addressing the three conventions resulting from the 1992 Rio Summit – on climate, biodiversity and desertification – not separately, but jointly. Whilst these three crises are part of the same system, they are managed through separate negotiation processes; this theme aims to bridge that gap.
Link to Türkiye: in 2015, Türkiye hosted the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Convention to Combat Desertification in Ankara.10. Dynamic and Resilient Health Systems
The effects of climate change on public health: deaths linked to heatwaves, the spread of vector-borne diseases, air pollution and the strain placed on health systems by disasters.
For universities: analysis of health policies, disaster preparedness, and the economics of climate and health.The link between our university and these themes
Galatasaray University’s COP31 Coordination Office is based at the Maritime Vocational School; this is why the theme ‘Oceans and Seas’ represents the university’s most direct link to this process. Furthermore, areas such as climate law, climate finance and climate communication cut across several themes.
The themes on which our university will carry out projects and activities will be announced on this page as soon as the evaluation process of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) has been completed.
To find out about the university’s priority areas and the units responsible for them, please visit the Our University page.
