H.E. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), participated in the Antalya Leaders’ Summit, held on 11-12 November 2026 under Türkiye’s Presidency of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). His visit to Antalya from 10-13 November was undertaken at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye and President of COP31.

The Secretary-General was accompanied by Ambassador Mustafa Özcan, Director-I, and Mr. Muhammad Bilal Khan, Executive Assistant, D-8 Secretariat.

The Secretary-General attended the Opening Ceremony and High-Level Segment of the Leaders’ Summit, inaugurated by H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of the Republic of Türkiye. In his address, President Erdoğan underscored Türkiye’s commitment to sustainable development, green transformation, renewable energy and its net-zero emissions target for 2053, while emphasizing international cooperation and collective responsibility in addressing climate change. Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency is guided by the principles of “Dialogue. Consensus. Action”, with a strong emphasis on translating climate commitments into tangible outcomes.

The Summit brought together around 102 leaders from 95 countries and seven international organizations, including 37 Heads of State and 35 Heads of Government, representing six continents. The participation from D-8 included H.E. President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, H.E. President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran, H.E. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of Bangladesh, and H.E. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, alongside Ministers and senior officials from other Member States. The Summit underscored the importance of translating climate commitments into action, strengthening resilience, mobilizing accessible climate finance and advancing equitable, sustainable development.

The COP31 Presidency has also advanced several flagship initiatives, including the Climate Implementation Bridge, the 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge, the Turquoise Nexus Initiative linking food, water and climate resilience, and the Global Zero Waste Movement, alongside efforts to promote climate-resilient cities, green industrialization and climate finance.

Upon arrival in Antalya, the Secretary-General visited the national pavilions established by several D-8 Member States, showcasing their climate policies, technological innovations and sustainable development initiatives. The exhibits highlighted progress in renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, water management, circular economy, resilient infrastructure and digital climate solutions, reflecting the considerable expertise and potential for enhanced cooperation among D-8 countries.

During the course of the High-Level Segment, the Secretary-General informally interacted with several participating Leaders, Ministers, and other dignitaries. He also attended several High Level Dialogues convened by diverse stakeholders as Side Events during the COP31 Leaders Summit.

On the sidelines, the Secretary-General had bilateral meeting with H.E. Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research of Pakistan. Discussions focused on strengthening D-8 cooperation in agriculture and food security, a priority area of the Organization, particularly through agricultural innovation, research partnerships, technology transfer, capacity-building and the exchange of national expertise.

The Secretary-General appreciated Pakistan’s offer to host the next D-8 Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Food Security and emphasized the importance of practical, results-oriented cooperation. Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to hosting the Meeting and assured his full support for advancing agricultural cooperation among Member States. Discussions also explored the application of emerging technologies, including nanotechnology, satellite-based data and artificial intelligence, to enhance agricultural productivity and climate resilience.

Separately, the Secretary-General met with Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH, to discuss implementation of the recently signed D8-COMSTECH MoU, particularly the development of a joint Action Plan covering scientific collaboration, capacity-building and technology-driven initiatives in priority sectors.

On 13 November, the Secretary-General participated in the High-Level Event entitled “Solidarity for Climate Resilience: Challenges and Opportunities,” organized through mutual collaboration of the Sultanate of Oman and SESRIC. In his intervention, the Secretary-General underscored the critical importance of international solidarity, accessible climate finance, technology transfer and stronger South-South cooperation in addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on developing countries.

He highlighted the D-8’s growing engagement on environmental sustainability, including the Istanbul Declaration adopted at the First D-8 Ministerial Meeting on Environment in July 2026, and reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to advancing practical cooperation in adaptation, disaster resilience, clean energy, and sustainable development.

As the COP31 proceeds further, the D-8’s next priority is the convening of the High-Level D-8 Ministerial Session on Climate Action in Antalya on 17 November 2026. Following the historic Istanbul Meeting in July, the forthcoming D-8 Ministerial Session in Antalya aims at advancing environmental cooperation and considering the proposed Antalya Ministerial Action Framework, including a D-8 Climate and Environment Roadmap for 2027-2030. A Special Event on Zero Waste and Circular Economy will also be held to promote practical collaboration among Member States.

The Secretary-General’s media engagements in Antalya included a detailed interview with TRT World in its Programme “One-on-One” where he shared his perspective on challenges and opportunities relating to intra-D-8 trade; the status of major D-8 initiatives for enhanced economic collaboration; and future prospects of deeper economic integration across the bloc.

Overall, in his myriad engagements while attending the Leaders’ Summit, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the D-8 Secretariat’s commitment to working closely with Member States, Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency, and international partners to translate shared priorities for accelerated climate action into concrete initiatives, strengthen institutional partnerships, and promote sustainable and climate-resilient economic development across the D-8 region.