Speaking at the program titled “Türkiye’s Road to COP31: Resilient Cities,” Murat Kurum stated that Türkiye aims to present its post-disaster reconstruction model to the international community within the framework of the COP31 climate agenda. The event brought together ministers, deputy ministers, and senior representatives from international organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union.

Kurum highlighted that the February 6 earthquakes affected an area of approximately 110 thousand square kilometers and described the reconstruction process as one of the largest urban recovery operations in recent history. He stated that housing production had reached “23 homes per hour and 550 homes per day,” adding that hundreds of thousands of homes and workplaces had already been delivered to rights holders across 11 provinces.

The panel focused on the concept of “resilient cities,” emphasizing disaster preparedness, sustainable infrastructure, climate adaptation, and environmentally conscious urban planning. Officials underlined that Hatay has become a central location for discussions on climate diplomacy and post-disaster urban transformation ahead of COP31.

During the meetings, participants also examined newly constructed earthquake housing projects and discussed long-term strategies for creating safer and more sustainable cities in the face of climate change and future natural disasters.

(Evrensel)