Organized under the COP31 Business Forum established by the COP31 Presidency to reinforce the private sector's role in climate delivery, the summit is coordinated by TOBB in its capacity as the COP31 Private Sector Envoy. Convening on November 12–13, 2026, in Antalya, the gathering brings together international chambers of commerce and industry, global corporations, financial institutions, investment funds, development banks, and technology providers.
Nearly 1,000 foreign business delegates representing 290 institutions across more than 55 nations will attend the event, with 63% comprising CEOs and C-level executives.
Convening Under the Theme "From Ambition to Delivery"
Held under the banner of “From Ambition to Delivery,” the summit will focus on converting climate pledges into bankable projects and capital allocation. The operational agenda includes:
Core Focus Topics: Industrial decarbonization, green industrialization, access to climate capital, urban climate resilience, the transition of SMEs and emerging markets, sustainable food systems, and the circular economy.
Technological Drivers: Evaluating artificial intelligence and emerging technical solutions designed to accelerate climate action.
Working Group Roadmaps: The findings of seven dedicated working groups—initiated in London in June and continued during New York Climate Week across industry, energy transition, climate finance, resilient cities, food systems, SMEs, and climate technologies/AI—will be formally delivered to the COP31 Presidency.
Statement from Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of TOBB and President of the COP31 Business Forum, stated:
“Turkey’s hosting of COP31 is the outcome of the vision and determination set forth under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, placing our country at the center of the global climate agenda. Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 President Murat Kurum has, from day one, regarded the business community not as a spectator, but as an active delivery partner. Through this private-sector engagement, the business community is positioned alongside the negotiation table and at the heart of implementation for the first time in COP history.
The climate agenda is no longer solely an environmental question; it is a matter of economy, investment, and global competitiveness. It is the business world that will implement this transition. We are the ones deploying capital, engineering technology, and creating employment. In Antalya, we are convening nearly 1,000 international business leaders from more than 55 countries, 63% of whom are CEOs and senior executives. Global companies, commercial banks, and investment funds will gather here to discuss turning commitments into projects, and projects into investments. Our objective is clear: to make COP31 a milestone where climate targets are realized through the operational strength of the business world. As the Turkish business community, we are proud to carry this responsibility.”
