Borusan offers a distinct perspective on the climate agenda at COP31 with an exhibition by Edward Burtynsky

The Borusan Group will participate in discussions at COP31, a pivotal milestone in climate diplomacy, where the business community will address agendas concerning industrial decarbonization, energy transition, and low-carbon growth. Furthermore, the Group will contribute an artistic perspective to the climate discourse by presenting a special selection of works by Edward Burtynsky, which document the traces left by human activity on the natural world.
 

Combining its 82-year industrial legacy with a sense of responsibility for a sustainable future, the Borusan Group will contribute to the transformation of the business world through concrete, practical examples at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), to be held in Antalya from November 9–20, 2026; the Group will also draw attention to the climate crisis through the lens of art.
 

Borusan Group Leader Özgür Günaydın will present the findings of the “Transitioning Energy, Industry and Transport” Working Group which he co-chairs, during the Sustainable Business COP (SB COP) sessions. In other sessions he attends, Günaydın will also offer insights from a business perspective, focusing on industrial decarbonization, energy transition, and low-carbon growth models.
 

In collaboration with Borusan Contemporary and drawing upon the power of art to foster awareness, the group will also present a special selection from the exhibition "Shifting Topography" by Edward Burtynsky, a pioneering figure in contemporary photography, to art enthusiasts at Akra Antalya; the selection is curated by Dr. Kumru Eren.
 

Özgür Günaydın: “Borusan presents a realistic roadmap for 2053”
 

Borusan Group Leader Özgür Günaydın stated that COP31 presents a significant opportunity to showcase Turkey’s regional leadership and the critical role its industry plays within global value chains.
He stated the following: “COP31 is a significant gathering where we will discuss how to translate climate goals into action. Our expectation for this summit hosted by Turkey, is the emergence of actionable decisions that will accelerate the transformation of the industrial and energy sectors through financing and technology. This is also the focus of the working group I co-chair. At Borusan, we operate in carbon-intensive sectors, ranging from steel to logistics. We are approaching this transformation by starting with our own operations and extending it across our entire value chain; we are implementing our 2053 roadmap through concrete steps from digitalization and energy efficiency to water management and supply chain optimization. As we share our own experiences at COP31, we also place great importance on being part of collaborations that will accelerate the transformation of the industry.”
 

Transformation model along the value chain
 

The Borusan Group will showcase its sustainability journey in which it has accelerated progress across the focus areas of “climate, human, and innovation” (i3) and created value throughout its entire supply chain through robust governance, on various platforms within the scope of COP31.
 

The Group has adopted a far more ambitious, science-based roadmap by refining its objectives through operational data from the field, measurable indicators, and the collective intelligence of its companies. This phased roadmap spanning the years 2034, 2044, and 2053, outlines concrete goals and initiatives across four key areas: ranging from climate targets and equal opportunity to technological transformation and supply chain sustainability.
 

Climate: In alignment with Turkey’s 2053 net-zero vision, reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 96% compared to the 2021 baseline year, and lower carbon intensity per unit of production by 15% by 2030; in water management, focus specifically on the "water withdrawal" metric to reduce total water withdrawal by 30% by 2034, while increasing the water recovery rate by 80%; and implement a total of 135 circular economy projects by 2034, averaging 9 projects per year.
Human: To deepen cultural transformation through the "Borusan Equals" initiative and a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) approach; to reach a 17% share of female employees in factories and field operations, 38% in office roles, and 40% in leadership positions by 2034, with the ultimate goal of achieving equal representation by 2044.
Innovation: Decarbonizing industrial processes through artificial intelligence applications. Supporting next-generation startups via Borusan Ventures, a corporate venture capital firm.
Governance and Supply Chain: Approximately 500 suppliers have been integrated into the Sustainable Procurement Platform, an initiative designed to extend decarbonization efforts across the entire ecosystem. Borusan aims to evaluate the sustainability performance of its suppliers, support actions for areas requiring improvement, and foster this transformation throughout the value chain.
 

The climate crisis through the language of art: Edward Burtynsky’s special selection for COP31

The Borusan Group combines its transformative approach in the industrial sector with the impactful power of art. A special selection from the exhibition "Shifting Topography", featuring the work of Edward Burtynsky, who has spent over four decades documenting the lasting imprints of human activity on the planet through his unique photographs will be open to the public free of charge at Akra Antalya throughout the summit.


The exhibition brings together, for the first time in Türkiye, the "Erosion" series, which features aerial photographs of the Anatolian landscape commissioned by the Borusan Contemporary Art Collection in collaboration with the TEMA Foundation, alongside the artist’s 22-minute immersive multimedia work, "In the Wake of Progress."