COP31 Presidency Releases Third Letter to Parties Ahead of COP31
The COP31 Presidency has released its third letter to Parties, setting out key priorities and engagement opportunities on the road to COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
The letter, issued by Murat Kurum, COP31 President-Designate, follows the 64th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) in Bonn and highlights the Presidency’s commitment to an open, inclusive and Party-driven climate process.
A central focus of the letter is the COP31 Action Agenda, which aims to complement the formal negotiations by strengthening partnerships, mobilising finance and investment, and accelerating practical implementation of climate action.
Ten priority themes for COP31
The Action Agenda is structured around ten priority themes:
- Clean Energy Transition and Electrification
- Zero Waste and Methane Reduction
- Climate-Resilient Cities
- Green Industrialization
- Youth and Education
- Food Security
- Oceans and Seas
- Dynamic and Resilient Health Systems
- Rio Synergies
- Climate Implementation Bridge (BRIDGE)
Finance, technology and capacity building are identified as cross-cutting enablers across these areas.
From climate ambition to implementation
For the Congo Basin, several of these priorities are particularly significant. The emphasis on resilient food systems, healthy communities, biodiversity and ecosystem protection, youth participation, and translating climate commitments into implementation speaks directly to the interconnected environmental and social challenges facing the region.
The letter also highlights the importance of strengthening cooperation across the Rio Conventions, bringing together climate, biodiversity and land agendas through ecosystem restoration, carbon-sink protection and sustainable land management.
This is closely aligned with REBAC’s mission to promote environmental and climate awareness across the Congo Basin and to encourage governments and institutions to adopt policies that protect and conserve Congo Basin ecosystems.
The COP31 Presidency further invites Parties and stakeholders to participate in the COP31 Thematic Days, which will provide opportunities for dialogue, partnerships and practical implementation. The letter also announces key engagements including the Istanbul Climate Finance Summit (4–5 September 2026) and the Ocean and Seas Summit (10–11 September 2026).
As COP31 approaches, the Presidency calls for continued cooperation to build a shared roadmap from ambition to implementation.
“Together, let us build a shared roadmap from ambition to implementation.”
The full COP31 Presidency’s 3rd Letter to the Parties is available below.
