Countries most exposed to the fallout from climate change aren't necessarily those best equipped to shoulder the costs of addressing it, as figures on drought and dwindling water resources lay bare the challenges of financing and implementing climate plans, Turkish economist and climate finance specialist Deniz Istikbal told QNA.

He added that concessional financing, long-term investments and public-private partnerships are becoming increasingly important, alongside the need to facilitate developing countries' access to international climate funds and institutions.

As for water and agriculture, the Turkish economist said the challenges are becoming quite pressing, particularly as mounting pressure on water resources and declining efficiency in some traditional irrigation systems exacerbate the problem.

He pointed out that investing in modern irrigation technologies, water reuse, improved water-resource management and the development of drought-resistant crops is no longer a development option that can be put off down the road, but a sine qua non for protecting agricultural production and bolstering food security.

He stressed that Turkiye's hosting of COP31 carries significance that goes substantially beyond its diplomatic and environmental dimensions, placing financing and implementation at the heart of international debate.

The challenge facing the conference, he outlined, isn't simply to produce new pledges, but to identify substantive mechanisms that ensure funding reaches the projects most in need of it, thus turning climate targets into measurable results on the ground.

The conference is expected to serve as an important milestone in reviewing the progress made thus far in implementing international climate commitments, exploring ways to accelerate the transition to clean energy sources and strengthening countries' ability to contend with the effects of global warming.

  The conference sessions will take place at the Antalya Expo Center in the Turkish city of Antalya, under an organizational arrangement based on sharing responsibilities between Turkiye and Australia.

Turkiye will host and preside over the conference, under the leadership of Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, while Chris Bowen, Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy, will preside over the official negotiations.

The arrangement grew out of a diplomatic settlement between the two countries over hosting the conference, allowing Turkiye to manage its general proceedings while Australia leads the negotiating process among participating countries.

The World Leaders' Summit is scheduled for Nov. 11 and 12 as part of the high-level political events accompanying the conference. Cutting greenhouse gas emissions will top the agenda, amid international calls to accelerate the implementation of commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Participating delegations are expected to discuss ways to expand the use of solar and wind power, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and strengthen investments in electricity grids and low-emissions technologies. These discussions take on added significance amid growing global energy demand and the need to strike a balance between security of supply, electricity costs and environmental objectives.

Climate finance is one of the foremost issues on the negotiating table and a major point of contention between industrialized and developing countries. Developing nations are calling for greater financial resources to help them develop clean-energy projects, protect infrastructure and contend with the fallout from floods, drought and rising sea levels.

  Discussions are also continuing over mechanisms to finance loss and damage caused by climate change, particularly in countries facing substantial risks despite their relatively limited contribution to historical emissions.

The scale of financial commitments and the mechanisms for implementing them will be among the issues determining how much progress can be made in the negotiations.

The conference also holds particular significance for the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean, where countries face mounting challenges linked to rising temperatures, water scarcity and declining rainfall in some areas.

These changes are affecting agriculture, water, health and energy sectors, substantially increasing the need for long-term investments in infrastructure and climate adaptation. They also raise questions about the region's ability to expand renewable energy use, improve water-resource management and protect agricultural areas from drought and extreme heat waves.

The Antalya conference seeks to focus on turning previous climate commitments into practical policies and measures, amid continued criticism of the gap between announced international targets and actual implementation rates.

These conferences began in Berlin in 1995 and have since been held annually, bringing together representatives of countries and governments, along with international organizations, civil society institutions and the private sector.

Overall, they serve as a platform for negotiations and decision-making on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, climate finance, adaptation to the effects of climate change and assisting the countries most severely affected. (QNA)