Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) has achieved significant international success with its technology-focused solutions and innovative projects developed to address the global climate crisis. Eleven projects prepared by BEUN academics and students have been accepted for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), which will be hosted by Türkiye.
The evaluation process carried out under the coordination of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) as part of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), to be held in Antalya from November 9 to 20, 2026, has been completed. As a result of the evaluations, 11 different projects prepared by BEUN academics and students were accepted and selected for inclusion in the COP31 YÖK Pavilion. Covering a wide range of areas, from ocean and marine research to AI-supported climate and financial analyses, satellite-based environmental monitoring systems, and smart agriculture applications, the projects will make a scientific contribution to the international climate summit.
BEUN Projects Accepted for COP31
BEUN’s 11 projects that will be featured at the international climate summit are as follows:
- Marine Mammal Observations in the Arctic and Southern Oceans
- Sustainable Finance and the Effects of Climate Change on Financial Markets during the COP31 Process
- On the Road to COP31: Sustainable Campus and Clean Energy
- GEO-INFO (A Comprehensive Platform for Near-Real-Time Monitoring of Geological Disasters and Risk Reduction)
- Climate-Smart Agriculture: Integrated Land Cover, Crop Health and Drought Monitoring Platform
- Climate Resilience: Integrated Climate and Disaster Risk Intelligence Platform
- Urban Climate Resilience: Microclimate and Urban Heat Island Monitoring Platform for Smart Cities
- Blue Resilience: Integrated Coastal and Marine Environmental Monitoring Platform
- Know What You Breathe: Mobilizing Communities for Air Quality in the Black Sea Basin (BSB00168 – AIRQUEST)
- Clean Atmosphere: Integrated Satellite-Based Air Pollution and Atmospheric Monitoring Platform
- AI-Supported Analysis of the Effects of Climate Risks on Financial Markets
Rector Ulusoy: “We Contribute to the Global Climate Vision through High-Quality Academic Research”
BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ulusoy congratulated the academics and students who contributed to the accepted projects. Emphasizing that BEUN transforms its scientific knowledge and expertise into social benefits and global solutions, Rector Ulusoy stated:
“Scientific knowledge, advanced technology, and innovative approaches play a critical role in tackling the climate crisis, which directly affects the future of our planet. As a university that aims to bring academic knowledge together with innovative and practical solutions, we seek to contribute academically to the fight against climate change and create social benefits in line with sustainable development goals. The acceptance of our 11 projects for the COP31 process, ranging from research on marine life to AI-supported financial risk analyses, satellite-based atmospheric monitoring, and climate-smart agriculture applications, clearly demonstrates our university’s strength in research and development.
With these thoughts in mind, I would like to express my gratitude to the entire YÖK community, particularly our YÖK President, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, for mobilizing the scientific potential of our universities to address the global climate crisis, strengthening the international representation of Turkish higher education, and guiding us throughout the COP31 process. I wholeheartedly congratulate all our academics and students whose projects have been accepted and who contributed to this important achievement, and wish them success during the COP31 process.”