12/10/2026
All 15 projects submitted by Sabancı University, under the coordination of the Council of Higher Education (CoHE), for COP31 have been selected for inclusion in the CoHE Pavilion at the UN Climate Change Conference, scheduled to take place in Antalya from November 9 to 20, 2026.
As part of COP31, hosted by Türkiye, CoHE solicited proposals from universities regarding academic participation, research projects, international collaborations, and side events. These submissions were evaluated by CoHE’s academic committee, and every project proposed by Sabancı University was accepted.
The accepted projects encompass the work of 14 academics and researchers from various faculties and research centers across the university. These initiatives focus on areas such as clean energy transition, the circular economy, climate-resilient agriculture, water security, and climate policy.
From green hydrogen to circular materials
In the field of clean energy, the HYSOUTHMARMARA project, Türkiye’s first Hydrogen Valley initiative, stands out. This project demonstrates the use of green hydrogen in hard-to-abate sectors such as glass, ceramics, and chemicals. Also in this field, a project involving a next-generation proton-exchange membrane, designed to enhance the efficiency of green hydrogen production, will be showcased at COP31.
There are two projects under the circular economy category. "Light-G-Comp," conducted in partnership with Khalifa University, transforms waste tires and plastics into graphene-reinforced lightweight composites. The second project focuses on the recovery of critical raw materials.
Agriculture, food, and water
There are three projects in the fields of agriculture and food. The Agrivoltaic Living Lab, planned for the former sand quarry site on the Tuzla Campus, combines solar energy generation with regenerative agriculture and soil restoration. Meanwhile, the Nanotern and Antimic technologies developed at Sabancı University offer solutions for water conservation in the face of drought and the reduction of food waste, respectively.
The Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC) will launch a report on water stress and water security in Türkiye, prepared specifically for COP31.
Climate policies and governance
The Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) will host five sessions at COP31. The session topics are as follows:
- The gap between climate commitments and implementation
- Just transition
- Climate disinformation
- Social engagement in renewable energy
- Launch of the first report by the Science Panel on Global Energy Transition (SPGET)
