Turkey is Europe’s most vulnerable country to the effects of climate change. In Turkey, where the adverse effects of climate change are already experienced daily through floods, droughts, and fires, there is a need for an effective climate target that will make it more resilient to the climate crisis and ensure the protection of its rich biodiversity and natural systems.
At the same time, an ambitious climate target will ensure a timely and just transition for society by making the decarbonization of economies mandatory.
Turkey will soon submit its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2035, known as its climate target, to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat.
Turkey had committed to increasing emissions
In the climate target it submitted in 2022, Turkey aimed for a 41% reduction from the increase by 2030. This means the following; in the current growth scenario used as a reference by Turkey, greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, and the climate target envisages a reduction based on this growth scenario. This ‘reduction from increase’ target actually means that emissions will increase by more than 30% by 2030.
In a joint statement, the Climate Network pointed out that there are no non-governmental organizations specializing in climate change on the Climate Change and Adaptation Coordination Board (İDUKK), the most authoritative body in the climate policy-making process, and stated that the Climate Network should be a member of İDUKK.
The elements that should be included in Turkey’s climate target, to be aligned with the 1.5-degree threshold and the 2053 net-zero target, were listed as follows:
Phase-out from fossil fuels: Turkey needs to start reducing its emissions today to combat the climate crisis. A date should be announced for phasing out coal consumption in electricity generation and ending new investments in gas and oil. Misleading solutions such as nuclear energy, hydrogen production from nuclear energy, and carbon capture and storage should be avoided. Fossil fuel subsidies should be removed by 2030. The capacity of the transmission and distribution grid should be developed.
Just transition: A “Just Transition Mechanism” should be established by 2030 to ensure vulnerable groups are “not left behind,” including measures related to labor transformation in fossil fuel sectors and energy poverty.
Nature conservation: The share of protected areas should be increased to 30% by 2030, and at least 30% of degraded ecosystems (forests, wetlands, agricultural lands, etc.) should be restored.
Food security: The share of agroecology and regenerative agricultural practices (including organic farming) within the country’s existing agricultural land should be increased to 10%. Water consumption in agriculture should be reduced by 50% through correct crop planning and efficient irrigation systems.
Combating forest fires: Traditional fire prevention methods should be applied in light of new climate projections, and the organization fighting forest fires should be strengthened in terms of training and equipment needs according to the new fire regime.
Health: The amount of green space per capita should be approximately doubled through ecosystem-focused solutions. Planning should be done for the population experiencing health problems due to exposure to heatwaves. All air pollutants should be measured and monitored, and pollution exceptions granted to fossil fuel power plants and industrial facilities in environmental legislation should be removed.
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