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COP31: Turkish Villagers Demand Leaders See Coal DamageWorld
Villagers from Akbelen in Mugla want COP31 leaders in Antalya to leave the halls and witness the coal mines swallowing their pine forests.
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As leaders and delegates gather in Antalya, Turkey, for the COP31 UN Climate Change Conference, villagers from front-line communities have issued them a sharp challenge: skip the conference halls and come and see the destruction coal mining has caused to their homes.
The call comes most forcefully from Akbelen, in the western province of Mugla, where residents have watched pine forests and ecosystems vanish as mines expand. Local leaders and activists, including villager Nejla Isik, who serves as an elected official, urged world leaders not to stay confined to Antalya but to visit areas like Akbelen to witness the damage firsthand.
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Residents describe living with coal dust “breathing down our necks” and watching the landscape they grew up in disappear. For years, they have protested against the expansion of coal mining; some have been fined and arrested for their resistance.
Coal that powers just 2 percent of Turkey
The mines in Akbelen provide coal for power plants that generate just over 2 percent of Turkey’s power. The coal mined there is lignite, the lowest grade of coal, which produces higher carbon dioxide emissions than other coal types — a heavy price for a small share of electricity.
The story captures a paradox at the heart of Turkey’s energy policy. The country has committed to a net-zero emissions target by 2053 and has seen significant growth in renewable energy, yet it remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Last year, coal was Turkey’s largest electricity source, generating 34 percent of the country’s power and making Turkey Europe’s biggest coal-fired electricity generator, according to energy think tank Ember.
The summit itself is being held against a backdrop of growing pressure on host countries to match climate pledges with action. Delegates in Antalya will negotiate emission cuts and finance for vulnerable nations, while outside the halls, communities like Akbelen say they are already living with the consequences of the choices governments make.
For the villagers of Akbelen, the summit in Antalya is a chance to be heard — if the leaders will look beyond the official proceedings. Their message is simple: climate promises mean little while the mines keep growing at their doorstep.
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