University climate ambassadors gathered at the COP31 workshop
Ahead of COP31, which will be hosted by Turkey in November, student climate ambassadors from universities gathered in Ankara. The two-day workshop, which was also attended by Merve Nur Elmas, a YT脺 Environmental Engineering student and Climate Ambassador, addressed international climate negotiations, preparations for COP31, climate literacy, and youth participation in decision-making processes.
Merve Nur Elmas, a Environmental Engineering student at Y谋ld谋z Technical University (YT脺) and a YT脺 Climate Ambassador, participated in the 鈥淐OP31 Climate Ambassadors Preparatory Workshop鈥 held in Ankara on August 27鈥28, 2026.
Organized in collaboration between the Presidency for Climate Change and UNICEF Turkey, the workshop was designed to ensure the active participation of university student climate ambassadors in the COP31 process and to establish a roadmap for the thematic working groups.
At the workshop, preparations for the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to be held at the Antalya EXPO Center on November 9鈥20, 2026, were reviewed.
The COP31 roadmap was discussed
At the workshop鈥檚 opening session, 脰mer 脰zt眉rk, Director of the Adaptation and Local Policies Department at the Climate Change Presidency, and UNICEF Turkey representatives addressed the participants. During the opening session, the role of climate ambassadors in COP31 preparations, the objectives of the thematic working groups, and the scope of the two-day program were shared.
During the 鈥淥n the Road to COP31鈥 session, which featured 脰mer 脰zt眉rk, the proceedings of COP meetings, international climate negotiations, the Action Agenda, and key developments leading up to COP31 were discussed. Experts from the Climate Change Presidency also provided information on the priorities of the COP31 Presidency and the themes of the Action Agenda.
Climate ambassadors worked in thematic groups
As part of the program, university climate ambassadors gathered in thematic working groups to evaluate activities to be carried out leading up to COP31. The focus was on strengthening coordination within the groups, increasing youth participation in climate policies, and ensuring that the views expressed are incorporated into the COP31 process.
During the 鈥淐limate Literacy and Trainer Education鈥 session, practical exercises were conducted to convey climate data to the public in an accurate and understandable manner. Peer-learning models were introduced to enable climate ambassadors to share the knowledge and experience they gained with other young people at their universities.
鈥淭he voices of young people must be reflected in decision-making processes鈥
Merve Nur Elmas, who participated in the workshop on behalf of YT脺, emphasized that young people鈥攚ho will experience the effects of the climate crisis for many years to come鈥攎ust play an active role in decision-making processes. Elmas, an environmental engineering student at YT脺, stated, 鈥淎s one of the groups that will be most affected by the climate crisis, it is of great importance that young people鈥檚 voices are heard and that they have a role in decision-making processes.鈥
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