Grace Fu to attend COP31 in Turkey to discuss carbon markets and climate adaptation

ANTALYA, Turkey – Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu will attend UN climate conference COP31 in Turkey from Nov 15 to 21 to discuss climate action with foreign counterparts on topics such as carbon markets and climate adaptation.

Governments from nearly 200 countries are meeting at COP31, running from Nov 9 to 20 in the city of Antalya, to negotiate how the world can collectively do more to tackle climate change.

The 2026 conference takes place against a backdrop of wars, skyrocketing energy costs and the rising cost of living. Climate-related disasters continue to hit countries worldwide.

At COP31, Fu will deliver Singapore’s national statement and participate in ministerial roundtables to discuss accelerating emissions cuts before 2030.

She will also convene a high-level dialogue on advancing carbon markets, bring together participating countries to share experiences, and accelerate the delivery of high-integrity carbon credits.

The global trade in carbon credits is provided for under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, the world’s climate pact that aims to limit global warming to 1.5 deg C above pre-industrial levels.

Carbon markets are critical to climate action as they allow countries to cooperate to meet their climate targets.

For instance, large emitters can buy carbon credits generated in other jurisdictions to achieve their goals, instead of just trying to reduce emissions within their own borders.

Singapore is the co-chair of the Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets, a government-led initiative established in June 2025 to strengthen corporate demand for high-integrity carbon credits. Other members include France, Panama and Canada.

At COP31, Fu will join her counterparts in a roundtable to discuss priorities for its next phase.

She will also attend events on heat resilience and sustainable cooling to strengthen the Global Cooling Pledge, which aims to curb carbon emissions from air-conditioning.

The inaugural Global Cooling Pledge Assembly was held in Singapore in September. That meeting set out practical approaches to safeguard water and food security, as well as schools, hospitals, workplaces and energy infrastructure during heatwaves.

Fu will also participate in several high-level events on climate adaptation and resilience, as well as the circular economy, a model that keeps resources in use for as long and as many times as possible.

Ahead of COP31, she is visiting Istanbul and Mersin on Nov 13 and 14, where she will meet Turkish Minister of Trade Omer Bolat to advance bilateral economic cooperation.

Fu, who is also Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, will also meet Singapore and Turkish business leaders to deepen commercial ties and explore trade and investment opportunities in both countries and their wider regions.

In Mersin, she will visit Mersin International Port, a key gateway to Turkey. Singapore’s port operator PSA International is a majority shareholder in the port.