Climate spending should match defence budgets, COP31 chief says

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 13:19 · Archive

The Turkish environment minister and COP31 president-designate says wealthy countries should prioritise climate spending over defence.

Murat Kurum, Turkey's environment minister and president-designate of COP31, has argued that wealthy countries should prioritise climate spending over defence budgets. Speaking at a pre-COP summit in the Fiji city of Nadi this week, Kurum said 'the climate issue is the security issue', suggesting climate action merits the same commitment that nations make to defence spending, including the 5% of gross domestic product pledged by Nato members.

Kurum's comments came as national leaders, ministers and officials gathered in Fiji to prepare for COP31, which will take place in the Turkish city of Antalya in November. Australia, which holds the new role of 'president of negotiations' at COP31, organised the pre-summit meeting in the Pacific to draw attention to island nations vulnerable to climate change.

However, Kurum hedged on whether countries should repeat a previous agreement to 'transition away from fossil fuels' when they meet in Turkey next month. He told the Guardian that the world was 'already in a transition' and suggested fossil fuel use could be addressed indirectly through other steps, rather than through an explicit commitment.

How it is being reported

• Cop31 host urges wealthy countries to spend ‘much more’ on climate than defence‘The climate issue is the security issue,’ says Turkish minister at Pacific pre-Cop summit in Fiji Wealthy countries should spend far more on dealing with the climate crisis than the 5% of GDP promised by Nato members for defence because “the climate issue is the security issue”, the host of the next UN summit has said. But, in comments that are likely to prove contentious, the Cop31 president-designate, Murat Kurum, hedged on whether the world’s countries should try to repeat a previous agreement to “transition away from fossil fuels” – the primary cause of the climate crisis – when they…The Guardian · 9 Oct, 13:00
• Climate needs same urgency as defense spending, COP31 chief saysTurkish Environment Minister and COP31 President-designate Murat Kurum said every country must show the same responsibility and determination.The Japan Times · 8 Oct, 11:00

In this story: Murat Kurum · Turkey · Fiji · Australia

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