Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

In his speech at the event, Ardıç emphasized that sustainability is no longer merely a social responsibility project but is at the very heart of global competitiveness. Pointing out that the European Green Deal, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and net-zero emissions targets have become the new rules of trade, Seyit Ardıç stated:

“As the Turkish business community, we are taking massive steps to prepare our factories, our energy systems, and our supply chains for the green transition. However, it is not possible for us to achieve this transition with capital or technology alone. The greatest force that will instill in us the spirit, excitement, and vision of this transition is you, the youth.”

- Youth as partners in decision-making mechanisms

Addressing young people in his speech, Ardıç said, “You are not just the leaders of the future; you are the most dynamic partners in today’s decision-making processes. The ideas you put forward here and the National Youth Declaration that will ultimately be drafted will serve as one of our greatest guides on the path to COP31, which we will host in Antalya in November.”

Ardıç noted that the COP31 summit in Antalya will not only crown Türkiye’s leadership in climate diplomacy but will also ensure that the will of Turkish youth and their concrete policy proposals are represented at the table, adding: “Furthermore, I am fully confident that during the workshops you will conduct throughout this conference, you will not only identify problems but also develop practical solutions that will shed light on our business world, ranging from the circular economy in industry to green skills, and from climate justice to sustainable trade. As TOBB, we stand by our young entrepreneurs and climate ambassadors, and we value their ideas.”