Istanbul, November 26, 2025
Press Release
IFAT Eurasia Begins Preparations Without Delay to Translate COP31 Decisions into Action
Türkiye will host the COP31 United Nations Climate Change Leaders’ Conference for the first time in 2026, bringing together the leaders of 196 countries in Istanbul.
Through this process, Türkiye will have the opportunity to increase its visibility on the global stage and showcase its strong commitment to the 2053 Net Zero Emissions Target through initiatives such as the Climate Law, the Zero Waste Project, and its transition plans toward a circular economy.
Organized in a different country each year, COP (Conference of the Parties) meetings bring the world together to establish collective commitments against the climate crisis, serving as key platforms where greenhouse gas reduction targets, adaptation policies, climate finance frameworks, and carbon market rules are defined.
“COP31 Will Place the Environmental Technologies Sector at the Center of the Global Agenda.”
Namık Sarıgöl, Exhibitions Manager at EKO Fuarcılık, the organizer of IFAT Eurasia, the leading environmental technologies exhibition in Eurasia, commented:
“Türkiye’s hosting of COP31 in 2026 will create significant opportunities both internationally, by enabling the country to take an active role in climate diplomacy, and nationally, by accelerating the transition to a green economy.”
“Global developments are highlighting the need to reduce water and carbon footprints alongside the growing demand for raw materials and energy. The Mediterranean and Middle East regions are among the most vulnerable areas to the impacts of the climate crisis. Significant investments could be unlocked in fields such as green hydrogen, energy storage solutions, carbon capture, waste management, and recycling technologies.”
Leveraging the synergy generated by COP31, IFAT Eurasia 2027 is set to further reinforce its role as a regional implementation hub for the green transition.
Emphasizing that the IFAT Trade Fair Family, with events in Germany, Brazil, China, South Africa, and India, plays an active role across a broad geographical footprint and represents one of the world’s most influential platforms in environmental technologies through its global network, Sarıgöl concluded his remarks as follows:
“To turn this momentum into lasting impact, it is essential for all stakeholders in Türkiye to start preparing from now on. Until the Conference takes place, we will continue our efforts to inform the sector and keep the issue on the agenda through the events and industry gatherings we organize. IFAT Eurasia 2027 will become a key platform where the decisions taken at COP31 will be translated into real-world technologies and tangible applications.”
IFAT Eurasia brings together the full spectrum of environmental technologies, particularly water and wastewater management, solid waste management and recycling, waste-to-energy solutions, and renewable energy. By convening domestic and international public institutions, private sector stakeholders, and global investors under one roof, the exhibition creates unique opportunities for knowledge exchange and strategic collaboration.
Held biennially and organized alternately with IFAT Munich, IFAT Eurasia welcomed 240 exhibitors from 14 countries in 2025. With an international exhibitor rate of 41% and nearly 10,000 visitors from 74 countries, the exhibition once again demonstrated its strong international appeal. The next edition in Germany, IFAT 2026, will take place in Munich from May 4–7.