Murat Kurum

Mr. Kurum is a civil engineer and senior government official currently serving as Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 President-Designate. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering and a master’s degree in Urban Transformation. After beginning his career in the private sector, he joined the Housing Development Administration in 2005 and later served as Manager of the Istanbul Department. Between 2009 and 2018, he was General Manager of Emlak Konut REIT, overseeing large-scale housing and urban development programmes. Appointed Minister in 2018, he led policies on urban transformation, disaster resilience, housing and environment. He also served as an Istanbul Member of Parliament before being reappointed Minister in 2024. He represents Türkiye in international climate diplomacy, including the UNFCCC process and preparations for COP31.