The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and Turkish Wind Energy Association have announced a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating global investment in wind power and renewable energy ahead of the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The joint initiative positions wind energy as a central solution to the growing climate and energy security challenges facing countries worldwide.
In a joint statement issued after the 15th Turkish Wind Energy Congress in Ankara, GWEC CEO Ben Backwell and TÜREB Chairman İbrahim Erden called on governments attending COP31 to prioritize a global renewable energy acceleration plan focused on wind and electrification technologies.
The two industry leaders emphasized that expanding investment into renewables is critical as nations respond to both energy insecurity and climate change pressures. They described Türkiye’s role as strategically important because of its geographical position connecting Europe and Asia, making it a potential hub for renewable energy development and electricity transmission across multiple regions.
The partnership comes as the Government of Türkiye prepares to host COP31 in Antalya from November 9-20, 2026, alongside the Government of Australia. Ahead of the summit, António Guterres urged governments to accelerate renewable energy deployment and avoid deepening the climate crisis while responding to global energy shortages.
According to the joint statement, global renewable energy investment reached approximately $2.2 trillion in 2025, highlighting the increasing financial momentum behind clean energy technologies. GWEC and TÜREB believe COP31 could become a defining moment in the transition away from fossil fuels toward large-scale renewable electrification.
Türkiye has emerged as one of the leading wind energy markets globally, with nearly 16 GW of installed wind power capacity, placing it among the world’s top 10 wind energy producers. The country added 2.1 GW of new wind capacity last year, making it the second-largest wind market expansion in Europe, according to the 2026 Global Wind Report.
The Turkish government has set an ambitious target of achieving 120 GW of combined wind and solar energy capacity by 2035. Delivering this objective is expected to require approximately $80 billion in investment, supported by renewable energy auctions expected to add at least 2 GW of new clean energy capacity annually.
GWEC and TÜREB also highlighted the importance of strengthening transmission and grid infrastructure to support future renewable energy expansion across Türkiye and neighboring regions including Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The organizations stated that collaboration between governments, investors, utilities, and industry stakeholders will be essential to removing deployment barriers and accelerating electrification.
Under a newly signed memorandum of understanding, GWEC and TÜREB will collaborate on cross-sector advocacy initiatives, information sharing, policy engagement, and joint events leading up to COP31. The partnership also aims to strengthen engagement with the COP31 Presidency and Turkish institutional stakeholders to ensure wind energy remains a central focus of international climate discussions.
