Thousands march in Antalya to demand climate justice during COP31 summit

Thousands of demonstrators marched through central Antalya, Turkey, on Saturday, November 14, 2026, to demand climate justice and systemic change. The protest took place during the COP31 UN climate summit, a meeting where approximately 200 countries are working toward a global agreement. The demonstration was organized by a coalition of environmental organizations, human rights groups, trade unions, and political parties. Participants marched through Aydın Kanza Park and along a central avenue under light rain. While some reports describe the crowd as thousands, other outlets estimated the number of demonstrators at 7,000.

Demands for systemic change

The protesters focused their demands on the transition away from fossil fuels and the necessity of increased financing for climate justice in the Global South. Sara Pizzinato, a delegate from Greenpeace Spain, stated, "We need to end fossil fuels and secure financing for climate justice." The summit venue is located 18 kilometers from the city center of Antalya. The demonstration saw participants traveling from various locations, including Adana, Izmir, Soma, and Akbelen. One participant, Yasar Gokoglu, traveled 600 km from Adana to join the march. Yasar Gokoglu, who is 78 years old, said, "The COP is a masquerade sponsored by monopolies."

The march also highlighted local environmental concerns. According to one source, the Taurus Mountains contain over 300 mines. Ezgi Teymur, a political science student and protester, said, "The summit only benefits elites rather than the working class and destroys ecosystems for the venue." Halime Saman, a member of the People's Climate Summit platform, noted that the voices of those suffering from climate injustice are not heard at the COP. Asli Han, a lawyer from Ankara, emphasized the importance of public participation, stating, "The most important thing is that the voice of the people can participate in this meeting."

Security and local context

Police cordoned off the authorized route during the march and conducted searches of participants. Turkey is currently serving as a co-chair of COP31. The protest occurred amidst a broader social context in Turkey; while homosexuality is not criminally repressed, officials have noted widespread social disapproval and homophobia. This follows a period in mid-September that involved arrests and social media closures affecting the LGBT+ community. The current demonstration joins a history of significant international protests in Turkey, such as the Gezi protests of 2013.

Glossary

• COP31 — COP31 is a United Nations climate conference. It is a meeting where approximately 200 countries work toward a global agreement.
• Global South — The Global South refers to a group of countries with concerns such as climate change and debt restructuring. It is a focus for human-centric development approaches.
• Adana — Adana is a city from which many Armenians originated in the early 20th century. It is located in the province of Cilicia of the Ottoman Empire.
• Akbelen — Akbelen is a location from which participants traveled to join the march. It is associated with the Akbelen Forest, a woodland in the Muğla Province of Turkey.