Erdogan: Climate change is one of the ‘deepest existential crises’ in humanity’s history

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described climate change as “one of the deepest existential crises” in human history at the opening of the leaders’ summit at COP31. He urged delegates to recognise that humanity has only one planet and said excessive consumption was contributing to the crisis.

The summit is being held in Turkey under the UN conference process. Erdogan’s remarks focused on the need to protect the Earth’s skies, seas, oceans and forests; the article gives no further policy proposals or figures.