Türkiye and the French Development Agency (AFD) are preparing a new financing package worth approximately €600 million to support environmental and climate-related projects, including efforts to combat marine mucilage, expand renewable energy and improve wastewater treatment infrastructure.

Türkiye's Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 President Murat Kurum announced the initiative after meeting AFD Chief Executive Officer Christophe Lecourtier in Paris.

Kurum said the package is being developed to finance projects aimed at protecting the Marmara Sea by strengthening wastewater treatment systems, increasing renewable energy capacity and improving environmental sustainability.

Projects to focus on Marmara Sea restoration

According to Kurum, the planned projects will prioritize improving the quality of wastewater treatment facilities, reducing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, and restoring oxygen levels in the Marmara Sea to help revive its marine ecosystem.

He said the initiative forms part of Türkiye's broader environmental strategy and will support long-term efforts to prevent marine mucilage while strengthening climate resilience.

Lecourtier said the financing package would also contribute to Türkiye's transition toward cleaner energy, biodiversity conservation and sustainable environmental management.

AFD to become strategic partner of COP31

Kurum announced that AFD will become one of the strategic partners of COP31, stressing that the conference should focus on delivering concrete, finance-backed climate projects rather than remaining limited to political declarations.

He said Türkiye aims to bring together governments, financial institutions and international organizations to transform climate commitments into practical investments ahead of the COP31 summit, which will be hosted in Antalya.

Türkiye expands international climate cooperation

During his visit to Paris, Kurum also addressed an OECD Council Meeting, where he presented Türkiye's priorities for its COP31 presidency.

He said cooperation with the OECD would help strengthen the conference by drawing on the organization's economic expertise, policy experience and analytical capacity to support global climate action.

AFD highlights global climate financing

Lecourtier noted that since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, AFD has provided more than €6 billion in financing for climate adaptation, renewable energy and environmental protection projects around the world.

He added that cooperation between AFD and Türkiye would continue through concrete investment projects designed to support environmental sustainability and accelerate climate action in the run-up to COP31.

The planned financing package remains under preparation, with both sides expected to finalize the framework in the coming months as bilateral cooperation on climate and environmental issues continues to expand.(ILKHA)