The host agreement for the UN climate conference COP31 in Türkiye has come into force, introducing stronger measures on inclusion, accommodation costs, conference management and participant protections.
The Host Country Agreement (HCA) between the Government of Türkiye and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provides the legal basis for organising and hosting COP31 in Antalya in November.
The agreement, ratified by Türkiye’s Parliament on 31 July and published by UN Climate Change in September, consolidates previous improvements to host agreements and introduces new measures to improve efficiency and provide greater certainty for participants.
Under the agreement, accommodation costs for participants funded through the Trust Fund for Participation will be capped at 50 per cent of the daily subsistence allowance, helping countries with limited financial resources participate in the conference.
Protections for other participants have also been strengthened, with requirements for early engagement with the hospitality sector and clearer information on consumer rights under Turkish law.
The agreement establishes a consolidated approach to human rights and inclusion, covering gender, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and persons with disabilities.
It also strengthens oversight by requiring the host country to keep the COP Bureau informed of emerging issues and report after COP31 on organisational achievements and challenges in implementing the agreement.
The HCA extends to UN Climate Change meetings held in Türkiye before and after COP31, supporting more efficient arrangements and reducing costs for the host country and the UNFCCC secretariat.
Other provisions strengthen regulation of contracts for leasing delegation and pavilion space within the conference venue and require the host government to apply project management best practices across COP operations.
These include monitoring risks, timelines and milestones to improve planning, efficiency and cost management.
The agreement was co-signed by COP31 President-Designate and Türkiye’s Minister Murat Kurum and UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell during the SB64 climate meetings in Bonn in June.
UN Climate Change said Türkiye and the secretariat had worked over several months to develop an agreement providing greater clarity and predictability for participants while supporting the effective delivery of COP31.
The agreement forms part of ongoing efforts to improve the organisation of UN climate conferences and respond to calls from countries for greater efficiency and cost savings.
