Erdoğan made the remarks at the COP31 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya, Türkiye, where he again drew international attention to the plight of Palestinians and highlighted the devastating environmental consequences of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has described Israel’s destruction of Gaza as not only a genocide but also an “ecocide”, drawing attention to the devastating environmental consequences of the war and the worsening humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians.
Erdoğan, who has consistently used international platforms to speak out against Israel’s actions in Palestine, made the remarks on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, while addressing the Leaders’ Summit of COP31, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Antalya, Türkiye.
The Turkish president said the destruction of Gaza had extended beyond the massive loss of human lives to the devastation of its environment, including centuries-old olive trees, contaminated soil and water, and entire cities reduced to rubble.
“As I emphasised in my (September) address to the UN General Assembly, what has happened in Gaza is not only a genocide but also an ecocide,” he said.
He also drew attention to the worsening conditions in the besieged Palestinian territory following heavy rainfall and flooding, which submerged tens of thousands of tents and temporary shelters amid widespread destruction of infrastructure.
“Hundreds of thousands of our brothers and sisters in Gaza, who have no roof over their heads, particularly innocent children shivering in the cold, are struggling to survive in the water under winter conditions, often without their parents,” Erdoğan said.
He stressed that those who had witnessed or were aware of the situation could not evade responsibility, calling for the immediate delivery of humanitarian assistance, an end to Gaza’s isolation and a halt to what he described as the oppression and cruelty inflicted on Palestinians.
“Showing power through the suffering of Gaza’s children is, quite frankly, a sign of weakness, helplessness and, above all, a lack of conscience,” he said.
“Humanitarian aid must be allowed into the region immediately, this policy of isolation must end, and this oppression and cruelty must come to an end once and for all,” he added.
Erdoğan urges global action on climate change
Beyond the situation in Gaza, Erdoğan called on developed countries to assume greater responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing climate finance, particularly to developing nations.
Addressing the opening of the COP31 Leaders’ Summit, he argued that countries which had historically consumed a greater share of the global carbon budget should shoulder more responsibility for emissions reductions and climate financing.
He called for climate funding to become more accessible, predictable and responsive to the needs of vulnerable countries, particularly least developed nations and small island developing states.
The Turkish president also warned that the world was facing mounting environmental challenges, including global warming, biodiversity loss, excessive consumption of natural resources, threats to food security and increasingly destructive climate-related disasters.
He said that despite three decades of international climate negotiations, implementation had fallen short of expectations, stressing the need to translate commitments into tangible action.
Erdoğan expressed Türkiye’s ambition to make COP31 an “implementation COP” through its partnership with Australia.
Türkiye reaffirms 2053 net-zero target
Highlighting Türkiye’s domestic climate agenda, Erdoğan reaffirmed the country’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2053, noting that environmental considerations were being integrated into its development plans and energy security policies.
He said Türkiye was pursuing decarbonisation across several sectors, including energy, industry, transportation and agriculture.
The president also highlighted the Zero Waste initiative launched in 2017, saying the country’s recycling rate had increased from approximately 13 per cent to nearly 40 per cent by the end of 2025.
According to him, renewable energy sources now account for more than 60 per cent of Türkiye’s installed electricity capacity, while the country is expanding investments in energy efficiency and clean transportation.
Erdoğan further identified clean energy, food security, industrialisation, climate-resilient cities, ocean protection and zero waste among the priority areas for tangible progress.
He described the Earth as a sacred trust that must be protected and preserved, adding that Türkiye was determined to contribute to addressing the climate crisis rather than worsening it.
He also noted that November 11 had been designated National Afforestation Day in Türkiye, with millions of seeds and saplings planted across the country annually.
Wars intensify environmental and humanitarian crises
Returning to the wider consequences of armed conflicts, Erdoğan warned that wars, migration, hunger and poverty were making international solidarity increasingly necessary at a time when the global system was already facing serious challenges.
He stressed that armed conflicts exact a heavy toll not only on human beings but also on the natural environment, making the protection of both people and the planet an urgent international responsibility.
The Turkish president welcomed participating heads of state and government to Antalya, expressing hope that the discussions and decisions at COP31 would benefit all nations and humanity.
He also acknowledged the support of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and countries that had previously hosted the climate conference.
Türkiye is hosting COP31 in partnership with Australia, with the summit bringing world leaders and other stakeholders together to discuss international responses to climate change.
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