Türkiye’s Green Development Initiative TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE © 2021 PUBLICATIONS BY PRESIDENCY’S DIRECTORATE OF COMMUNICATIONS Contact Kızılırmak Mahallesi Mevlana Bulv. No:144 Çukurambar Ankara/TÜRKİYE T +90 312 590 20 00 | webinfo@iletisim.gov.tr Prestij Grafik Rek. ve Mat. San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti. T +90 212 489 40 63, İstanbul Matbaa Sertifika No: 45590 Print Publication Certificate No: 45482 1st edition, İstanbul – 2021 TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE A B B R E V I AT I O N S EU: European Union R&D: Research and Development ITS: Intelligent Transport Systems UN: United Nations UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change CDM: Clean Development Mechanism COP: Conference of the Parties CRED: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters eq: Equivalent GDP: Gross Domestic Product ILO: International Labour Organization MLF: Multilateral Fund MOP: Montreal Protocol OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OIZ: Organized Industrial Zone TfSD: Tools for Sustainable Development GNAT: Grand National Assembly of Türkiye FTE: Full-Time Equivalent UNEP: United Nations Environment Programme UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change LCCAP: Local Climate Change Action Plan WIM: Warsaw International Mechanism WMO: World Meteorological Organization Abbreviations 4 Introduction 7 Preface 11 1. International Processes and Sustainable Development 15 2. Green Development, Green Growth, and Green Economy 23 3. Global Warming, Climate Change and International Conventions 31 4. Sustainable Development Goals and Türkiye 55 5. Climate Change and Türkiye 65 5.1. Türkiye’s UNFCCC Process 70 5.2. The Republic of Türkiye’s Becoming a Party to the Kyoto Protocol 73 5.3 Türkiye’s Paris Agreement Process 74 5.4. Türkiye’s Climate Change Strategy (2010-2023) and Action Plans (2011-2023) 77 5.5. Regional Climate Change Action Plans 80 5.6. The Green Deal Action Plan 2021 89 5.7. Other Initiatives in Combating Climate Change 93 5.8. Steps Taken in Türkiye within the Past 20 Years as Part of Green Development 99 6. Türkiye’s 2053 Green Development Vision 103 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION | 7 T he fact that Western civilisation has seen nature as a commodity that should be dominated from the in- dustrial revolution on has left us confronted with en- vironmental disasters today. This approach, which disregards the air, water, and soil in favour of increased pro- duction and profits, is gradually transforming our world into an uninhabitable place. Natural disasters experienced in recent years have demonstrated that countries that disregarded green development principles endanger not only themselves but also the whole humanity. At this point, there is obviously a need for a new roadmap that cherishes and prioritises the environment over economic gain. As members of a civilisation that teaches “Plant a tree, even if it is your last deed,” our country places a premium on environmen- tal protection. An economic model that prioritises growth at the expense of nature is incompatible with our nation’s faith and culture. Since 2002, we have viewed development through this I n t r o d u c t i o n 8 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE lens as a comprehensive transformation process that includes social, technological, institutional, and environmental dimen- sions alongside economic growth. We have not strayed away from our sustainable development goals, which include ensur- ing equitable income distribution, increasing employment, and supporting disadvantaged segments of society while steering the Turkish economy to the highest growth rates in its history. Furthermore, we have made remarkable progress in areas such as renewable energy, waste management, and forest expansion. As a result of the “Zero Waste” project, the most significant step we have taken in waste management, we have embarked on a new era in terms of environmental protection and recycling awareness among our citizens. By ratifying the Paris Climate Agreement in September, we effectively crowned all the envi- ronmental projects we have undertaken over the last 19 years. In adapting to the Paris Climate Agreement, Türkiye has com- mitted to achieving net-zero emission by 2053. Accordingly, significant steps will be taken to attain the zero emission goal, which entails bringing greenhouse gases emitted by fossil fuels on par with those absorbed and eliminated by oceans and green areas. The electrical design we employed in the production of our first domestic car, our breakthroughs in renewable technol- ogies, as well as our incentives for smart buildings and cities all epitomise our preferences in this direction. Climate change demonstrates how justified our country is in objecting to the inequities in the global leadership system. It is essential that the fight against the climate crisis, which is the shared problem of the whole humanity, is conducted on the basis of global cooperation and solidarity as well. Developed countries, which have exacerbated climate change due to their economic policies to date, should assume more liability in this process. Otherwise, new injustices and inequities will inevitably be experienced. Türkiye lends sincere support to the fight against climate change, although our historical responsibility for the current state of affairs is minuscule. We believe that humanity has now reached a crossroads in the fight against climate change. It has become more of an obligation than a need for humanity to act with an approach that respects the rights on the environment of both our children and all living things on earth. Inspired by its long-standing culture, Türkiye is determined to assume a leading and effective role in resolving the climate crisis in the upcoming period by placing the Green Development Initiative at the centre of all its efforts. PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKIYE RECEP TAYYİP ERDOĞAN INTRODUCTION | 9 10 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE PREFACE | 11 T ürkiye has always viewed and implemented devel- opment as the accomplishment of structural trans- formations in social, technological, institutional and environmental fields in addition to economic growth. All of the policies we have put in place demonstrate the impor- tance we place on both qualitative and quantitative change. Since 2002, our perspective on our nation’s overall development has enabled us to focus on goals such as distributing national income equitably, increasing employment, and introducing in- novative economic initiatives. Additionally, the introduction of climate change measures, which we regard as one of the world’s greatest challenges, is an essential component of these policies. Our experience in government over the last two decades has en- abled us to focus not only on national and regional issues but also on international ones. It has never been consistent with Türkiye’s historical perspective and mission to be isolated in its region and remain silent on international issues. Thus, un- der the leadership of our President, Türkiye has taken a position P r e f a c e 12 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE that allows it best to observe and object to the unjust structure in the world. As international crises such as climate change have demonstrated, this corrupt system has existed for many years. The economic, political, and environmental aspects of it are no longer sustainable because this unjust system has turned not only countries and people into enemies to be exploited and fought against but also nature. Without regard for the air, wa- ter, and soil, the pursuit of growth gradually renders the world uninhabitable. It is now clear that the world can no longer view nature as an enemy. Integrating into a low-carbon economy in order to build a sustainable and inclusive global economy has become a red line for the world. Türkiye supports international agreements, particularly the Paris Agreement, and we believe that all nations should unite to combat the global climate crisis, which is a global issue. Protect- ing green spaces has never been viewed as a concession made at the expense of development but as a form of development that will pay off in the long run by protecting nature. Countries that do not adopt green development principles for their short-term interests will harm not only themselves but also the world. Tür- kiye will prepare and implement all our medium and long-term development programmes and practices under the guidance of the structural transformation required by the green develop- ment initiative. This choice is not a luxury, a loss or a concession for us; rather, it will serve as a road map for us to start planning for the future today. We have already made significant progress in this regard through our efforts to increase renewable energy, improve waste management and expand forests in particular. We have advanced to a higher level in terms of both protecting nature and raising awareness about recycling and circular econ- omy with our ‘Zero Waste’ project under the leadership of HE Emine Erdoğan. Committed to reducing its emissions to net-zero by 2053 under the Paris Agreement adaptation process, Türkiye will not re- PREFACE | 13 main silent on climate change, which poses a threat to the future of humanity; on the contrary, it will take the lead. Türkiye has already been left in the lurch in its efforts to combat irregular migration, particularly in Syria.While the world is on the verge of mass migrations due to climate change, it is unthinkable for Türkiye to stay out of the fray. Climate change has become a tangible indicator of how accurate our country’s political vision of “a fairer world is possible” to in- justices in the global management system is. As with all other issues, we will also be on the side of those who are oppressed and suffering in the case of climate change. We will stand firm against injustice and unfairness regarding the consequences of climate change, just as we have in the face of colonialism, terror- ism, and other forms of discrimination. In addition, Türkiye will also set an example for the rest of the world by presenting Green Development as a people-centred development vision. The book in your hands is a document that outlines Türkiye’s vision for green development in all of its facets. I believe that the green development initiative will be a watershed moment in our county’s modernisation. Along with structural reforms that will be implemented in the near future, Türkiye will take strategic steps towards a more liveable world and play a pioneering role in this field. PROF. FAHRETTIN ALTUN PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKIYE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS 14 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE INTERNATIONAL PROCESSES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | 15 ÖNSÖZ | 15 0 1 I N T E R N A T I O N A L P R O C E S S E S A N D S U S T A I N A B L E D E V E L O P M E N T 16 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE INTERNATIONAL PROCESSES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | 17 0 1 I N T E R N AT I O N A L P R O C E S S E S A N D S U S TA I N A B L E D E V E L O P M E N T H umanity has disrupted the ecological balance on its path to civilization by making interventions in its favour. These interventions, which started with the invention of fire, gained momentum with the industrial revolution and has become a significant prob- lem with today's consumption frenzy and unjust world order. Human needs have become more diverse as civilisation de- veloped, and their desires and needs have become limitless. However, it is clear that the resources required for unlimited wants and needs are not equally infinite. Particularly in the mid-twentieth century, societies became aware of some problems in their relationships with their en- vironment. People began to voice it through initiatives made at both international and national levels that this relationship of dominance between nature and humans should be reor- ganised, and that the resources of the world are limited and that this world, which future generations have entrusted to us, should be protected. The increase in environmental prob- lems, as well as the nature of these problems, has revealed that the struggle against environmental problems cannot be sustained on an individual and national level, and it is pos- sible to seek solutions with global awareness and solidarity. 18 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE The first steps of this struggle from a global perspective have been included in the declarations prepared at the environmen- tal conferences organised under the leadership of the United Nations, in the international agreements, and the national strategies of the countries. Sustainable development, or to put it more clearly, continuous and balanced development, is based on the idea of meeting the needs of today and developing without compromising the abil- ity of future generations to meet their own needs. At the heart of the concept of sustainable development is the idea of meet- ing everyone's basic needs and improving their life expectancy while also protecting the resources of future generations. United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, known as the Stockholm Conference, convened in Stock- holm on June 5, 1972, and was held with the participation of 113 countries, including Türkiye. At the end of this conference, international cooperation and solidarity were emphasised by addressing the adverse effects of human activities on the en- vironment, the economic development problems of countries, the improvement of living conditions, the relevant internation- al law and organisations. Following the Stockholm Conference in 1972, the United Nations established the United Nations En- vironment Program (UNEP) to manage environmental affairs directly. The United Nations General Assembly established the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1983, and Gro Harlem Brundtland was tasked with developing the glob- al agenda for the change. The concept of sustainable develop- ment, which is currently regarded as the most effective tool for resolving environmental problems, was incorporated for the first time in 1987 in this report titled "Our Common Fu- ture," also known as the Brundtland Report. The report covers a range of issues, including steering environmental concerns, ensuring cooperation among countries at various stages of economic development, establishing a common goal by con- INTERNATIONAL PROCESSES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | 19 sidering the human-resource relationship in the context of environment-development, and determining long-term envi- ronmental strategies. This report also emphasizes the need of planning for the future, protecting future generations' in- terests, and taking the necessary precautions. This report rec- ognises resource constraints and proposes a new concept of development as balanced and continuous development, which differs from the current situation. Figure 1: Sustainable Development SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Between May 14-16, 1990, the United Nations and the Econom- ic Commission for Europe held a regional conference in Ber- gen called "Action for a Common Future." At the end of the meeting, the "Bergen Ministerial Declaration on Sustainable Development" was published. After identifying environmen- tal threats in the declaration, a process based on international collaboration was proposed for sustainable development econ- omy, energy consumption, industrial activities, raising envi- ronmental awareness and public involvement, and ensuring sustainability. The UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Conference), held in Rio de Janeiro between June 3-14, 1992, was a significant step in establishing a set of principles for nations to adopt environmentally responsible governance practices. In addition to Agenda 21, which was originally an 20 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE action plan, the Rio Declaration and the Forest Principles were adopted in this framework. Furthermore, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UN Convention on Bio- logical Diversity were opened for signature during the Confer- ence. The UN Convention to Combat Desertification, prepared in line with the decisions taken at the Rio Conference, was opened for signature in 1994. The Millennium Declaration and Millennium Develop- ment Goals, which established a universal framework for de- velopment, were adopted by governments at the United Na- tions Millennium Summit in 2000 and had a target date of 2015, are widely recognised as a tool that enables developing countries to collaborate with developed countries for our com- mon future. As part of ensuring environmental sustainabili- ty, the Millennium Development Goals include harmonising sustainable development principles with national policies and programmes, reversing environmental resource losses, reduc- ing biodiversity loss, and halving the number of people who cannot sustainably access safe drinking water. Between August 26 and September 4, 2002, the "World Sus- tainable Development Summit" was held in Johannesburg to follow up on the outcomes of the Rio Conference and to har- monise countries’ and relevant stakeholders’ efforts towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. As a follow-up to these efforts, the United Nations Confer- ence on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) was held in Rio de Janeiro on June 20-22, 2012, 20 years after the 1992 Rio Conference. The Rio+20 Summit resulted in the adoption of a final document titled "The Future We Want" as a roadmap for development. Furthermore, green economy modelling was discussed as a significant agenda item at this conference. The green economy modelling was proposed as an economic model to achieve sustainable development. On September 27, 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable INTERNATIONAL PROCESSES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | 21 Development was adopted in New York. The UN Sustain- able Development Goals, which succeed the Millennium De- velopment Goals, comprise 17 goals and 169 targets. Eradi- cating extreme poverty, combating inequality and injustice, and reversing climate change were adopted as the three key frameworks for these goals. By establishing a new global de- velopment framework with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, environmental challenges such as sustainable cities, climate change, combatting drought and biodiversity conservation were incorporated into the sustainable develop- ment agenda. Figure 2: Global Goals for Sustainable Development 22 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GREEN DEVELOPMENT, GREEN GROWTH, AND GREEN ECONOMY | 23 ÖNSÖZ | 23 0 2 G R E E N D E V E L O P M E N T , G R E E N G R O W T H , A N D G R E E N E C O N O M Y 24 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GREEN DEVELOPMENT, GREEN GROWTH, AND GREEN ECONOMY | 25 0 2 G R E E N D E V E L O P M E N T, G R E E N G R O W T H , A N D G R E E N E C O N O M Y W hile the term “sustainable development” is commonly used today, it remains a conten- tious topic. The string of adverse environmen- tal, economic, and social events that began in the twenty-first century demonstrated the necessity for a restructured approach to sustainable development. It has introduced concepts such as green growth, green economy, low-carbon economy, sustainable production and consump- tion that should be assessed within the context of sustain- able development. Sustainable development will continue to thrive as a result of this restructuring, but with a new impe- tus. The green growth phenomenon, which emerged in the Asia-Pacific region in 2005, will offer this impetus. Although the concept of green growth emerged in 2005, it was the 2008 economic crisis that popularised it. Due to its social, ecolog- ical, and economic dimensions, this crisis was labelled a tri- ple crisis. There were articulated and accepted views that the green new order would be essential in resolving the crisis. In- deed, the green order was not restricted to political circles and green economists but was also promoted as a way out of the crisis by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The UNEP and OECD advocate prioritising invest- 26 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE ment in and consumption of goods and services that contrib- ute to environmental improvement in terms of green growth. Environmental sustainability, economic development, in- come growth, employment, and poverty alleviation are all included as its outputs. The European Union likewise main- tains that sustainable production, consumption, energy effi- ciency, the use of renewable energy, and the creation of new job opportunities under the green economy are all inextrica- bly linked to boosting human welfare. However, international consensus on the green economy concept is lacking. On the other hand, green growth arises as a result of the formulation of three fundamental imperatives. These include sustainable development, an economic policy, and the fact that the cur- rent economic system is unsustainable and inefficient in re- source consumption. As of today, the concepts of sustainable development and green growth make sense when they are used in conjunction. Green growth is promoted as a model for implementing sus- tainable development because it is viewed as a way out, a method to find a solution, and a route out of the economic, social, and ecological crisis into which all countries have de- scended. Clearly, sustainable development and green growth are two separate concepts. The primary distinction between these two cases is that green growth omits the social com- ponent of sustainable development. While sustainable devel- opment is a concept, a way of thinking, a point of view, and a goal to be reached with a general emphasis, green growth is one of the means of the desired outcome. Hence, green growth is not a phenomenon replacing sustainable develop- ment or a concept defining sustainable development. It is an approach that argues that sustainability can be achieved by the correct functioning of the economy. The concept of green growth aims to ensure economic development by highlight- ing environmental investments and thus encourages sustain- GREEN DEVELOPMENT, GREEN GROWTH, AND GREEN ECONOMY | 27 ability. Green growth basically focuses on the dimensions of sustainable development that protect and prioritise green. Green growth focuses on establishing the circumstances for innovation, investment, and competition that can result in the creation of new resources for economic growth, as well as the economic opportunities that result from creating a green-based economy. Green growth itself is seen as a path for achieving sustainable development. The financial crisis in 2008 and the environmental crises compelled governments to take more comprehensive mea- sures on the environment and seek a new economic model. The “Green Economy Initiative” was launched by the Unit- ed Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 2008, which included proposals for poverty reduction, green investments and green transformation. In 2009, these efforts culminated in a green-based restructuring strategy with the publication of UNEP’s “Green New Deal - Policy Brief”. With this new model, “Green New Deal”, which incorporates green economy with Keynesian economics, a restructuring model based on the green economy was established. Green New Deal includes financial, sectoral, national and interna- tional regulations covering the elimination of ecological risks, ensuring sustainability and increasing employment. Green Economy is not only an approach that offers solutions to en- vironmental problems but a far larger concept that considers nature and all living things in nature as an element of val- ue. The green economy is regarded as a renewable, equitable and lucrative economic model that strives to reduce reliance on fossil resources, minimise the effects of the ecosystem, promote social equality and fair distribution of wealth, and maintain socioeconomic welfare for all people. The green economy seeks to accomplish sustainable devel- opment goals by redefining areas such as green energy, 28 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE green transport, green design and construction, green agriculture, green water and waste management. In this context, it is aimed to develop renewable energy sourc- es such as wind, solar, geothermal energy via green energy, as well as renewable fuels, fuel-efficient vehicles, the devel- opment of electric cars, public transportation and alternative transportation models via green transportation. Green design and construction aims integrated urban environ- mental management, improvements in energy and water ef- ficiency, reusable or recyclable products, materials and infra- structures; while green agriculture aims to expand organic agriculture, provide agricultural protection and establish a community-based food system; and green water and waste management aims water treatment, reuse and recycling of wastewater and solid waste, and the development and dis- semination of rainwater harvesting systems. As a result of the green economy and green growth strategy, some changes in the labour and job markets are anticipat- ed. In this context, the notion of green jobs emerges in rela- tion to the potential to mitigate the consequences of climate change and environmental degradation along with the de- velopment of innovative employment policies. International Labour Organisation (ILO) defines green jobs as “decent jobs that involve environmentally sustainable economic activities in comparison to traditional alternatives and provide decent working conditions.” UNEP also defines green jobs as work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development (R&D), administrative, and service activities that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental qual- ity. Green structural transformation also results in the creation of new green employment in areas such as renewable energy, waste management, green management and awareness, as well as a variety of retraining requirements across industries. GREEN DEVELOPMENT, GREEN GROWTH, AND GREEN ECONOMY | 29 For instance, electricians, installers or fitters who install so- lar panels in the construction sector, in many renewable ener- gy-related professions and those who install photovoltaic and thermal solar panels for construction are required to have specific technical skills, and these changes in return enable the creation of “new” green jobs and new employment areas. 30 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GLOBAL WARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS | 31 ÖNSÖZ | 31 0 3 G L O B A L W A R M I N G , C L I M A T E C H A N G E A N D I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O N V E N T I O N S 32 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GLOBAL WARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS | 33 0 3 G L O B A L WA R M I N G , C L I M AT E C H A N G E A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O N V E N T I O N S S ince the nineteenth century, the scientific communi- ty has debated global warming and climate change, which are linked to the greenhouse effect and the in- creasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, treating human-induced climate change as a global environmental and safety issue and addressing this issue as a key item on the international political agenda dates back to the 1970s and 1990s. 34 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE Chart 1: Weather-Climate Induced Natural Disasters Occurred Throughout the World from 1960 to 2019. (World Disasters Report 2020) NUMBER OF WEATHER-CLIMATE RELATED NATURAL DISASTERS OCCURRED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD FROM 1960 TO 2019 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 2019 2015 2010 2005 2000 1995 1990 1985 1980 1975 1970 1965 1960 Flood Earthfall Storm Wildfire Extreme heat Drought NUMBER OF DISASTERS Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, General Directorate of Meteorology, Assessment of Meteorological Disasters in 2020, p.15 https://mgm.gov.tr/FILES/genel/raporlar/2020MeteorolojikAfetlerDegerlendirmesi. pdf Under the Science of Climate Change, global warming and climate change appear as two concepts that describe differ- ent processes; however, the terms are occasionally used in- terchangeably. To begin, global warming is simply defined as an increase in average global temperature caused by nat- ural or anthropogenic factors in atmospheric areas close to the earth’s surface. Climate change, on the other hand, re- fers to the long-term and broader consequences of the world recovering heat such as changes in the precipitation regime and quantity, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and ice sheets, drought or flood as a result of energy budget imbalances. By recognising global warming as a cause and climate change as GLOBAL WARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS | 35 a result, a simple cause-and-effect relationship may be formed. Climate change is also one of the global issues that is causing/ will create today’s most severe problems in terms of its effects on all countries, regardless of borders or level of development. The charts and graphics below illustrate the scope of this glob- al threat. Figure 3: Distribution of Natural Disasters around the World by Types (1980-1999/2000-2019) Number of Reported Disasters Number of Affected Individuals Economical Loss (USD) Casulties 4,212 7,348 3.25 billion 4.03 billion 1.63 trillion 2.97 trillion 1.19 million 1.23 million 1980-1999 2000-2019 Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, General Di- rectorate of Meteorology, Assessment of Meteorological Disasters in 2020, p5, https:// mgm.gov.tr/FILES/genel/raporlar/2020MeteorolojikAfetlerDegerlendirmesi.pdf 36 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE Figure 4: Distribution of Nature-Related Displacement by Disaster Types That Occurred Throughout the World between 2008 and 2018 Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, General Directorate of Meteorology, Assessment of Meteorological Disasters in 2020, p.23 https://mgm.gov.tr/FILES/genel/raporlar/2020MeteorolojikAfetlerDegerlendirmesi. pdf “The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer” is the first international convention to emerge in re- sponse to global warming. The Convention was accepted in 1985 with the goal of reducing ozone-depleting substances. Following the contract, the “Montreal Protocol on Sub- stances that Deplete the Ozone Layer” was adopted in GLOBAL WARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS | 37 1987 to ensure that the use and manufacture of ozone-de- pleting substances are controlled. The reduction commit- ments foreseen in the protocol have been further advanced over time (1990, 1992, 1997, 1999 and 2016). Control of new substances and the incorporation of further measures in the convention are also included in these updates. The Montreal Protocol, which 196 countries have signed, is often regarded as the landmark multilateral environmental agreement. In addition, in 1990, the Multilateral Fund (MLF) was founded in London to implement the Montreal Protocol, funded by the contributions of developed countries. During the 28th Convention of the Parties (MOP 28), held in Kigali between October 10-15, 2016, and the MOP 29, held on November 20- 24, 2017, new decisions were made, and the agreement was amended in several ways. The amendment, which was ap- proved by the Montreal Protocol’s 65 signatories, went into effect on January 1, 2019. Türkiye, which became a state par- ty to the Montreal Protocol on December 19, 1991 and accept- ed all textual amendments, is one of the Protocol’s successful implementers. This ozone layer model has served as a kind of precedent for the climate change regime. In this perspective, the Montreal Protocol marks a significant milestone in the development of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN- FCCC). In 1988 and 1989, the United Nations General Assem- bly called on governments, international organisations and NGOs to co-operate to develop a climate change framework convention, emphasising that climate change is an issue af- fecting all humanity. The draft Climate Change Framework Convention was presented at the Rio World Summit in June 1992 as a result of studies. In 1992, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted in 1992 to lay the groundwork for a global re- sponse to the climate change problem. On March 21, 1994, the 38 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE treaty went into effect. The treaty, which includes 194 parties, has reached almost universal involvement. The ultimate goal of the convention is to halt the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent the dan- gerous human-induced impact on the climate system. As a framework treaty, the UNFCCC specifies general norms, prin- ciples and obligations. The convention acknowledges that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be af- fected by emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases caused primarily by industry and other sectors. GLOBAL WARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS | 39 Table 1: Historical Process of Conference of Parties Name of the Conference Conference Date and Location Significance/Short Description COP 1 March, 28 - April 7, 1995 Berlin, Germany At the summit, the signatories committed to meeting yearly to closely monitor global warming and the need to reduce hazardous gas emissions. COP 2 July 8-19, 1996, Geneva, The Ministerial Declaration was drafted by the ministers attending the conference on July 18, 1996; however, it was not adopted. COP 3 December, 1997 Kyoto, Japan The Kyoto Protocol was adopted. COP 4 November, 1998 Buenos Aires, Argentina Within the framework of addressing global warming, a two-year "Action Plan" was adopted. COP 5 October 5-November 5, 1999 Berlin, Germany As the conference was a technical meeting, no concrete output or outcome was achieved. COP 6 / COP 6 bis November13-15, 2000 The Hague, Netherlands July 17-27, 2001, Bonn, Germany COP 6 began in The Hague, but it was cut short as political discussions on key issues such as carbon reductions, financial assistance, and commitments evolved into negotiations. The following year, COP 6 bis, a continuation of the interrupted COP 6, was convened in Bonn. Before COP 6 bis, US President George W. Bush rejected the Kyoto Protocol; nevertheless, once the US became an observer, agreements on a range of issues were reached, including carbon reductions, financing and adaptation. COP 7 October 29-November 10, 2001 Marrakesh, Morocco The parties finalised their efforts on the Buenos Aires Action Plan at COP 7, resolving most of the operational details and paving the way for countries to adopt the Kyoto Protocol. This decision package is knowns as the Marrakesh Agreement. The US delegation refused to actively participate in these negotiations and instead remained as an observer. 40 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE Name of the Conference Conference Date and Location Significance/Short Description COP 8 October 23-November 1, 2002 New Delhi, India The Delhi Ministerial Declaration was adopted. The New Delhi Work Programme was approved in accordance with Article 6 of the Convention. Russia's reservations regarding the Kyoto Protocol, as well as its request for more time influenced this conference. COP 9 December 1-12, 2003 Milan, Italy. It was agreed at this Conference that the Adaptation Fund, established in 2001, should be used primarily to assist developing countries in better adapting to climate change as well as for capacity building through technology transfer. COP 10 December 6-17, 2004 Buenos Aires, Argentina The evolution and future challenges of the first Conference of the Parties were discussed at COP 10. The Buenos Aires Action Plan was adopted to help developing countries better adapt to climate change. COP 11 November 28-December 9, 2005, Montreal, Canada It was the largest gathering of the intergovernmental climate conference since the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The Montreal Action Plan was approved, and it was adopted as a road map for the subsequent years. COP 12 November 6-17, 2006, Nairobi, Kenya The emphasis was on moving forward with adaptation in mind at the Nairobi Conference; increasing the equity and accessibility of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM); reviewing the mandate of the Expert Group on Technology Transfer (EGTT); maintaining the momentum of the post-2012 climate regime discussions. GLOBAL WARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS | 41 Name of the Conference Conference Date and Location Significance/Short Description COP 13 December 3-17, 2007, Bali, Indonesia At this Conference, the Bali Roadmap was drafted. With this roadmap, a timeframe was established for the negotiations to be held in order to establish a new international agreement, which is intended to replace the Kyoto Protocol and includes all countries. COP 14 December 1-12, 2008 Poznan, Poland The delegates at the conference agreed on the funding and principles for a fund to assist impoverished countries in coping with the effects of climate change. It was also recorded that negotiations were held on the post-Kyoto Protocol. COP 15 December 7-8, 2009 Copenhagen, Denmark At this conference, the target of keeping global warming below 2°C was approved, developed countries committed to long-term financing for developing countries. COP 16 November 28 - December 10, 2010, Cancun, Mexico The Cancun Agreements (Decision: /CP.16) were adopted (UNFCCC, 2010) at this Conference. The goal of the international agreement was to limit the global temperature rise to 2°C while also reducing green gas emissions measurably through national plans to be developed as part of their shared but varying responsibilities and capacities. In addition, the “Green Climate Fund” was established to support climate action in developing countries. COP 17 November 28-December 09, 2011 Durban, South Africa At this conference, developing countries such as the United States and Brazil, and China, India, and South Africa, agreed to begin lowering all emissions. Again, it was determined at this conference to negotiate a global agreement that will go into effect in 2020. 42 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE Name of the Conference Conference Date and Location Significance/Short Description COP 18 November 26-December 07, 2012 Doha, Qatar This conference featured the "Doha Climate Gateway." The Kyoto Protocol was amended for the second commitment period; a new commitment period covering the years 2013- 2020 entered into force; the allocated units were transferred to the new commitment period, and their terms of use were determined; and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA), which was established in Bali in 2007, was completed at this meeting. For the first time, loss and damage- related terms were added in conference documentation, and they became official at this meeting. COP 19 November 11-23, 2013, Warsaw, Poland It can be stated that the negotiations held within the framework of this conference focused on the implementation of the agreements adopted in the previous meetings. Furthermore, the parties decided to establish the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM). COP 20 December 1-12, 2014 Lima, Peru At this conference, all countries committed for the first time to develop and share their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. COP 21 November 30-December 12, 2015 Paris, France The Paris Agreement, which establishes the framework for the post-2020 climate change regime, was adopted. The agreement went into effect on November 4, 2016, after being ratified by at least 55 countries, which together accounted for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions as of October 5, 2016. GLOBAL WARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS | 43 Name of the Conference Conference Date and Location Significance/Short Description COP 22 November 7-18, 2016 Marrakesh, Morocco The meeting successfully demonstrated to the world that the Paris Agreement was being implemented and that the constructive spirit of multilateral collaboration on climate change was being maintained. The importance of inter-country dialogue, cooperation, and the fight against climate change was highlighted. Furthermore, because this is the first conference convened following the entry into force of the Paris Agreement, it is known as the "Conference of Action." COP 23 November 6-17, 2017 Bonn, Germany This conference went into great detail about how the Paris Agreement would work in practice. Furthermore, in order to meet the Paris Agreement's goals, communication channels were established for countries to share their experiences and best practices. COP 24 December 3-14, 2018, Katowice, Poland The report released by the IPCC just before the conference, detailing the impacts of a 1.5°C increase in global temperature, came to the fore at the conference. Despite the fact that the conference highlighted the urgency of lowering pollution emissions, it was not included as an action plan in the agreed-upon texts. COP 25 December 2-13, 2019 Madrid, Spain The ongoing blockade was lifted by acknowledging the need to assist developing countries in dealing with loss and damage caused by the climate crisis. Initially, loss and damage were incorporated into the UNFCCC financial structure in this regard. The "Gender Action Plan" and the “Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform" work plans were approved. 44 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GLOBAL WARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS | 45 The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at the 3rd UNFCCC Confer- ence of the Parties held in Kyoto in December 1997. The pro- tocol endorses the UNFCCC’s goals and bodies. However, the most important distinction between the two agreements, however, is in the legal nature of the obligations they regu- late. While the Convention outlines a non-binding obligation for industrialised countries to stabilise their greenhouse gas emissions, the Protocol imposes binding obligations on in- dustrialised country parties to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The detailed implementing rules required to prepare the agreement for ratification and implementation by countries were adopted at the 7th Conference of the Par- ties in Marrakesh in 2001. These rules, known as the “Mar- rakesh Accords”, were adopted during the 1st Meeting of the Protocol Parties in 2005. Since May 2010, 191 countries and the European Union have been parties to the Kyoto Protocol, which entered into force on February 16, 2005. In accordance with the Convention’s principle of “common but differenti- ated responsibilities”, the Protocol followed the distinction made by the Convention between parties in terms of their obligations and imposed binding emission reduction obliga- tions on developed countries while increasing their burden. The Bali Road map, developed as a result of the 13th Confer- ence of the Parties held in Bali in 2007 to determine climate policies following the Kyoto Protocol, was a key milestone. Following the failure of the 15th Conference of the Parties in Copenhagen in 2009 to reach agreement on the second commitment period, the parties reached a consensus at the 18th Conference of the Parties in Doha in 2012 and decid- ed to extend the Protocol until 2020. As a result, the second commitment period has been established as 2013–2020. In contrast to the first commitment period, it was agreed with the “Doha Amendment,” which forms the protocol’s 46 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE second commitment period, that the parties on the An- nex-B list would lower their emissions by at least 18 per cent in 2020 compared to 1990. The Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, which required approval by 144 coun- try parties to enter into force, had been accepted by only 135 countries as of December 10, 2019 and thus did not take effect. The United States, Japan, Russia and New Zealand did not take part in the second commitment period. As a result, the fight against climate change has been left to the EU and a few minor developed countries’ commitments to reduce emissions. The Paris Agreement, which establishes the framework for the post-2020 climate change regime, was adopted in 2015 during the 21st UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in Paris. The agreement went into effect on November 4, 2016, after at least 55 parties ratified it, accounting for 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions, as of October 5, 2016. Compared to the UNFCCC, the most distinctive feature of the Paris Agreement is that it envisions a system based on all countries’ contributions. The agreement is based on the classification of developed/developing countries in the fight against climate change, as well as the approach that all countries bear responsibility under the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”. There are no criteria for designating countries as developed or developing, and no differentiation is made. The Paris Agreement aims to strengthen global socioeco- nomic resilience to the threat of climate change in the post- 2020 timeframe. The long-term goal of the Paris Agree- ment is to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C, compared to the pre-industrial era. This goal requires a gradual reduction in the use of fossil fuels (oil, coal) and a shift toward renewable energy. In terms GLOBAL WARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS | 47 of addressing climate change, the Agreement established a framework for determining implementation procedures regarding nationally determined contributions, reduction, adaptation, loss, financing, technology development and transfer, capacity building, transparency, and status as- sessment. To improve the adaptation and resilience capabilities of the countries vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change as well as their capacity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Agreement primarily envisions developed countries providing resources such as funding, technolo- gy transfer, and capacity building to developing countries in need, particularly Least Developed Countries and the Small Island States. The 22nd UNFCCC Conference of the Parties, which took place in Marrakesh from 7 to 18 November 2016, was dubbed the “Conference of Action” because it was the first conference of the parties held following the Paris Agree- ment’s entry into force. As a result of the conference, it was projected that the implementation parameters for the Par- is Agreement would be finalised by the end of 2018, at the latest. The “Marrakesh Partnership for Global Climate Ac- tion” was launched, and the “Marrakesh Action Proclama- tion for Climate and Sustainable Development” was adopt- ed for the 2017-2020 time period. The 23rd UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 23) was held in Bonn from 6 to 17 November 2017 on behalf of the Fiji Presidency, and COP 24 was held in Katowice from 2 to 15 December 2018. The “Rulebook,” which details the pro- cedures for implementing the Paris Agreement, was adopt- ed at COP24. The 25th Conference of the Parties (COP 25) took place in Madrid from 2 to 5 December, 2019, under the presidency of the Government of Chile. 48 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GLOBAL WARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS | 49 The European Union (EU) stated at the end of 2019 that as part of the European Green Deal, it set a goal of be- coming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. It also announced that it would adopt a new growth strategy that would require industry transformation, and it would thus reorient all of its policies around the axis of climate change. The European Union (EU), known for its sensitivity to en- vironmental and social sustainability issues, particularly around combating climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and using renewable energy since the 1990s, took these sensitivities a step further in November 2019 by presenting a package of initiatives, a commitment to take firm and ambitious steps on such sustainability issues: The European Green Deal. The Deal resonated with all international organisations and private sector players who have economic, political and geographical connections with the EU. Because the Deal, which consists of the standards set by the EU for its mem- ber states, also has the potential to affect the relations of EU countries with third parties. Relevant actions under the European Green Deal will lay the foundations for a trans- formation that will reshape the EU economy and gain mo- mentum year after year, affecting sectors such as energy, transport, industry, finance, construction, and agriculture. In general, the objectives of the deal include reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, decoupling eco- nomic growth from resource use, and ensuring that no one or region is left behind or excluded from these policies. Cli- mate crisis response policies organised within the frame- work of the Green Deal are binding not only on the Euro- pean Union and European continent countries but also in all other countries that wish to maintain commercial and economic ties with these countries. The deal is expected to 50 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE have a profound impact on economic, commercial, and po- litical relations between Europe and countries that are not ready or willing to take similar steps in the fight against the climate crisis. Within the scope of the defined objectives, the growth strategy is structured under seven policy areas: i) clean en- ergy, ii) sustainable industry, iii) building and renovating, iv) farm to fork, v) eliminating pollution, vi) sustainable mobility and vii) biodiversity. The EU is also putting in place some plans and mechanisms to guide and act as a tool in the process of implementing the targeted transformation within the scope of the Deal. These are; i) The European Green Deal Investment Plan, which is GLOBAL WARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS | 51 a framework for the management of necessary investments within the scope of the Deal, ii) The Just Transition Mechanism designed to prevent the negative impact of regions and communities (such as those in the fossil fuel value chain) that are at risk of socioeconomic damage from the process, iii) The European Climate Law, which aims to eliminate national implementation differences that could prevent Europe from reaching its climate-neutral goal by 2050, iv) the European Industrial Strategy, which aims to support industry and SMEs with green and digital transformation, and v) the Circular Economy Action Plan that aims for sustainable production and consumption practices to be adopted within the Union. The unlimited challenge of both the climate crisis and the ecological crisis, which requires global efforts, is frequently emphasised in the European Green Deal text, and thus an approach that includes non-EU actors is emphasised. The availability of EU opportunities for integration and all its requirements also offers essential opportunities for part- ner countries and institutions outside the Union. Focusing on shaping the EU economy for a sustainable future, the European Green Deal continues to update its goals and in- struments in line with the requirements. Türkiye follows this process closely and continues its struggle with various projects and institutional coordination. Some plans have been developed to serve as a road map in the European Union Green Deal context. These are as follows: • To actively engage sustainability in all European Union agreements, • To provide fairer agreements by considering green devel- opment and investment, 52 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GLOBAL WARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS | 53 • Allocating a share to green in the planning of country budgets, • Allocating more budget to research and directing it to in- novations, • To enrich the training programs, • To make a commitment for the protection of green among European countries and to work to ensure that commit- ment is not broken, • To comply with European climate agreements, • Globalising the measures taken by the European Union for climate change. The Green Deal, which aims to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent, where there will be net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050, envisages radical policy changes in almost all areas of the economy, such as energy and transportation, agriculture, industry and trade. The Green Deal aims to provide the EU economy with a cir- cular, resource-efficient, and competitive structure based on combating climate change and environmental protec- tion. Since the adoption of the Green Deal, various strate- gies and policy and legislative changes at the sectoral level have been implemented in areas such as decarbonisation of energy systems, the establishment of sustainable and smart transportation systems, circular economy, trade, in- dustry, sustainable agriculture and food supply, and biodi- versity protection. Within the context of this dynamic pro- cess still unfolding within the EU, it is necessary to review and adjust all policy areas in accordance with the EU’s climate objectives. The Green Deal-based sustainable and green investment incentives form the bedrock for the EU’s economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic. 54 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND TÜRKIYE | 55 ÖNSÖZ | 55 04 S U S T A I N A B L E D E V E L O P M E N T G O A L S A N D T Ü R K İ Y E 56 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND TÜRKIYE | 57 0 4 S U S TA I N A B L E D E V E L O P M E N T G O A L S A N D T Ü R K I Y E T here is a global indicator set consisting of 231 indi- vidual indicators to monitor the level of achieve- ment of Sustainable Development goals and targets. The global indicators included in the 2030 Agenda aims to measure progress under 17 goals and 169 targets. In this context, TURKSTAT prepared 2010-2019 Sustainable Development Indicators in February 2021 (For detailed in- formation, https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Sustaina- ble-Development-Indicators-2010-2019-37194). According to this indicator set, the relative poverty rate in Türkiye decreased by approximately 2.5 points between 2010-2019. According to poverty rates calculated based on 50 per cent of median equivalised household disposable in- come, the poverty rate, which was 16.9% in 2010, dropped by approximately 2.5 percentage points to 14.4% in 2019. 58 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE Chart 2: Proportion of Individuals at Risk of Poverty or Social Exclusion, 2010-2019 2010 65,7 Total 39,8 70,8 <16 age 47,7 69,7 16-24 age 44,9 63,2 25-54 age 36,5 59,2 55+ age 32,9 (%) (%) 2019 Source: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Sustainable-Development-Indica- tors-2010-2019-37194 While in-work at risk of poverty rate of population was 17.9% in 2010, it fell by 4.7 percentage points in 2019 to 13.2%. The proportion of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion was 39.8% in 2019, falling by 25.9 percentage points from 65.7% in 2010. According to this indicator set, the maternal mortality rate in Türkiye, which was 16.7 per hundred thousand live births in 2010, decreased to 13.1 in 2019. In 2014, the completion rates for primary, middle, and secondary education were 97.7%, 94.1%, and 58.8%, respectively. In 2019, they were 98.6%, 97.7%, and 70.3%. While the proportion of women aged 20-24 who were married before age 18 was 8.2% in 2010, it fell to 5.1% in 2019. The proportion of seats held by women in local gov- ernments, which was 9.9% in 2014, increased to 10.1% in 2019. While the proportion of women in managerial positions was 14.4% in 2012, it increased to 17.5% in 2019. While this propor- tion in the industry and services sectors was 10.2% and 17.9% in 2012, it increased to 10.8% and 22% in 2019, respectively. According to this indicator set, while the rate of individuals in the 15-24 age group who do not attend formal and non-formal SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND TÜRKIYE | 59 education and do not have a job in Türkiye was 32.3% in 2010, it fell to 26.0% in 2019. While the rate of informal employment in total employment was 43.3% in 2010, it fell to 34.5% in 2019. Chart 3: Various Data of Employees Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in employment, education on training, 2010-2019 50 - 45 - 40 - 35 - 30 - 25 - 20 - 15 - 10 - 5 - 0 - (%) 32,3 34,0 26,0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 44,4 19,4 18,3 Total Male Female Proportion of employment without having a social security registration in total employment, 2010-2049 43,3 29,1 22,3 23,0 33,4 34,5 50 - 45 - 40 - 35 - 30 - 25 - 20 - 15 - 10 - 5 - 0 - (%) 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Total Non-agricultural sector Source: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Sustainable-Development-Indica- tors-2010-2019-37194 60 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE While the share of research and development (R&D) expend- iture in the gross domestic product (GDP) was 0.79% in 2010, it was 1.06% in 2019. While the number of researchers per mil- lion inhabitants in terms of full-time equivalent (FTE) was 880 in 2010, this figure increased to 1,641 in 2019. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND TÜRKIYE | 61 Chart 4: Various Data on Expenditures in GDP The share of R&D expenditures in GDP and number of researchers, 2010-2019 0,79 1,06 880 1,2 - 1,0 - 0,8 - 0,6 - 0,4 - 0,2 - 0,0 - Share of R&D (%) Number researchers (FTE) 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 - - - - - - - - - - 1 800 1 600 1 400 1 200 1 000 800 600 400 200 1,641 Researchers per million inhabitants R&D expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) Manufacturing industry’s share in total employment and GDP, 2010-2019 20 - 18 - 16 - 14 - 12 - 10 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 2 - 0 - (%) 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 18,7 15,1 18,4 18,3 Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment Value added of manufacturing industry as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) Source: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Sustainable-Development-Indica- tors-2010-2019-37194 62 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE Manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP was 15.1% in 2010 and reached 18.3% in 2019, increasing 3.2 percentage points. The average share of the built-up area that is open space for public use, such as parks, recreational areas, civic parks, gar- dens, squares and plazas, as well as land allocated to streets and avenues at Türkiye level, was measured at 13.56%. While the forest area as a proportion of total land area was 27.1% in 2010, it increased by 2.1 percentage points in 2019 to 29.2%. In the same period, the normal forest area as a propor- tion of total land area increased from 14.6% to 16.8%. The proportion of young and women deputies in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (GNAT) has increased. Accord- ing to this indicator set, the proportion of young deputies in the GNAT (45 years old and younger) was 29.8% in 2018, whereas it was 28.4% in 2011. In the same period, the propor- tion of women deputies increased from 14.4 per cent to 17.3 per cent. In the same period, the representation of women el- igible to be elected as deputies in the GNAT increased from 0.28 to 0.34 The total amount of net official development assistance pro- vided by Türkiye as a donor country to less developed and de- veloping countries increased nearly nine-fold between 2010 and 2019, amounting to 8 billion 667 million USD in 2019. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND TÜRKIYE | 63 Chart 5: Net Official Development Assistance, Share of Net Official Development Assistance in GDP and Humanitarian Aid, 2010-2019 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 0 - (Billion US $) (%) 2010 0,97 0,12 1,14 8,67 7,54 0,15 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 - 1.2 - 1.0 - 0.8 - 0.6 - 0.4 - 0.2 - 0.0 Net official development assistance Humanitarian assitance Net official development assistance / GDP Source: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Sustainable-Development-Indica- tors-2010-2019-37194 While humanitarian assistance provided by Türkiye in 2010 was 153 million USD, it reached 7 billion 541 million USD in 2019. The share of net official development assistance in the gross domestic product (GDP) increased from 0.12% in 2010 to 1.14% in 2019. While the proportion of individuals using the Internet was 37.6% in 2010, it increased to 74% in 2019. The proportion of individuals who use a mobile phone was 93.5% in 2019, and it was 96.9% among men and 90.2% among women. 64 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 65 ÖNSÖZ | 65 05 C L I M A T E C H A N G E A N D T Ü R K İ Y E 66 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 67 0 5 C L I M AT E C H A N G E A N D T Ü R K İ Y E T he unfavourable effects of climate change, a glob- al issue becoming more severe by the day, have a profound impact on Türkiye. Türkiye is one of the countries most vulnerable to the potential effects of global climate change. Natural disasters such as extreme weather events, forest fires, storms, floods, hail storms, heat waves, landslides, and avalanches are expected to become more common in our country due to climate change. It is found that the number of meteorological disasters that oc- curred in the 2000s increased threefold when compared to the 1960s. This translates to a 15-fold increase in insurance losses and a 9-fold increase in economic losses. The mucilage problem in the Marmara Sea, the flood disas- ters in Rize, Artvin, Kastamonu, Sinop and Bartın, and the fire disasters in many cities of Türkiye, particularly in Anta- lya and Muğla, are among the concrete and current examples of climate change in Türkiye. According to experts, climate migration may also be triggered as a result of such natural disasters. This prediction is supported by the chart below, de- picting global displacement. 68 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE Chart 6: Worldwide Migration Activities as a result of Natural Disasters, Conflicts and Violence between 2009-2019 Conflicts and violence Disaster 6.5 16.7 2.9 42.4 3.5 15.0 6.6 30.1 * 8.2 22.1 10.9 19.1 9.0 19.2 6.9 24.2 11.8 * 18.8 10.8 17.2 * 8.5 24.9 40 30 20 10 0 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2011 New displacements in millions Source: Interal Displacement Morning Center (IDMC) Norwegian Refuegee Council (NRC) Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, General Directorate of Meteorology, Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters in 2020, p.22, https://mgm.gov.tr/FILES/genel/raporlar/2020MeteorolojiAfetlerDegerlenensi.pdf Climate change poses significant risks to a variety of sectors in Türkiye, which will also trigger climate migration. Climate changes endanger water resources, destroy agricultural lands and adversely affect livestock. Given that all of this has oc- curred with only a 1.1°C increase in global average tempera- ture, one can estimate what will happen if the temperature increase and adverse effects continue. CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 69 Chart 7: Annual Distribution of Meteorological Natural Disasters Observed in Türkiye between 1940-2020 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Years Number Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, General Directorate of Meteorology, Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters in 2020, p.48, https://mgm.gov.tr/FILES/genel/raporlar/2020MeteorolojiAfetlerDegerlenensi.pdf While approximately 50% of maximum temperature records have been observed in Türkiye since 2000, this rate has de- creased to 10 per cent for minimum temperature records. In other words, over the last 25 years, both the temperature has risen noticeably, and the frequency and intensity of heat- waves in Türkiye have increased significantly. The significance of the Paris Agreement becomes clear at this point. The Paris Agreement aims to improve the imple- mentation of the UNFCCC in the context of sustainable de- velopment and poverty eradication. The Agreement’s long- term goal is to keep the global average temperature increase below 2°C compared to the pre-industrial period while also maintaining global efforts to keep this increase below 1.5°C. Türkiye has been committed to these important goals from the start and has contributed significantly to the process. On April 22, 2016, Türkiye signed the Paris Agreement alongside representatives from 175 countries at the High-Level Signa- 70 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE ture Ceremony in New York. Even though Türkiye did not sign the Paris Agreement at the outset, it has conducted prelimi- nary research and prepared for the process. In addition to the Paris Agreement, Türkiye has demonstrated its commitment to the fight against global climate change by developing and implementing the action plan required to comply with the Eu- ropean Green Deal. Regardless of all these international processes, Türkiye has taken steps to raise awareness about the environmental prob- lems associated with industrialization, and it has highlight- ed numerous studies that demonstrate the futility of viewing nature as an enemy and an obstacle to be defeated. The reg- ulation on Zero Waste was issued by the Presidency on July 12, 2019, and went into effect. The zero-waste initiatives pio- neered by First Lady Emine Erdoğan, the spouse of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, have evolved into a state policy for environmental protection and the development of a new eco- nomic awareness. The following sections discuss Türkiye’s participation in in- ternational agreements as well as its practices in combating climate change, green economy, and sustainable development. 5.1. Türkiye’s UNFCCC Process The UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Conference), held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to June 14, 1992, was an important step for nations to adopt a set of princi- ples for embracing environmentally responsible management styles. At this conference, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was opened for signature. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is regarded as the first and most important step in the inter- national arena to address climate change, is a treaty that went into effect in 1994. 197 countries are now party to this conven- tion. It is fair to say that this structure serves as the foundation for both the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 71 UNFCCC encourages Parties to the Convention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cooperate on research and tech- nology, and protect greenhouse sinks (for example, forests, oceans, lakes). The Convention is founded on the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”, taking into account each country’s development priorities and special circumstances to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Convention is founded on the idea that some countries should bear a greater share of the responsibility for releasing more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that cause climate change than other countries following the industrial revolu- tion. The principle of “common but differentiated responsibil- ities and relative capabilities” requires countries to contribute to this global effort in line with their socioeconomic circum- stances. In this context, the Convention divides countries into three groups according to differing commitments. In the most basic sense, Annex-I Countries are countries that take precautions and have obligations, while Annex-II Countries are obliged to support other countries in addition to their obli- gations in the first group. Non-Annex Countries are countries that are encouraged to join but are not subject to any specific obligation. Türkiye has a unique position under the UNFCCC negotia- tions. When the UNFCCC was adopted in 1992, Türkiye, as an OECD member, was included in the Annex-I and Annex-II lists of the Convention alongside the developed countries. With the adoption of Decision no. 26/CP.7 at the seventh ses- sion of the Conference of the Parties (COP7) in Marrakesh in 2001, Türkiye’s distinct position from other Annex-I parties was recognized, and its name was deleted from the UNFCCC’s Annex-II list while remaining on the Annex-I list. The Mar- rakesh Ministerial Declaration no. 26/CP.7, which states that Türkiye is in a different situation from that of other Annex-I 72 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 73 countries due to its special circumstances, is significant when historical responsibility, economic development level, tech- nological know-how, human development index, sensitive country position, and similar indicators are considered. With- in the framework of the seventh session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 7) held in Marrakesh in 2001, it was decided to remove Türkiye from the UNFCCC Annex-II list. Further- more, this decision called for Türkiye to remain in Annex-I, but to take into account Türkiye’s special circumstances, em- phasizing that it was in a different position than the countries on the Annex-I list. On May 24, 2004, Türkiye became the 189th Party to the UNFCC. In this regard, Türkiye is the only country in Annex I that does not have a transition economy and whose “special conditions” are acknowledged by Confer- ence of the Parties decisions. 5.2. The Republic of Türkiye’s Becoming a Party to the Kyoto Protocol The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at the 3rd UNFCCC Confer- ence of the Parties held in Kyoto in December 1997. The protocol endorses the UNFCCC’s goals and bodies. However, the most important distinction between the two agreements, however, is in the legal nature of the obligations they regulate. While the Convention outlines a non-binding obligation for industrialised countries to stabilise their greenhouse gas emissions, the Pro- tocol imposes binding obligations on industrialised country parties to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The de- tailed implementing rules required to prepare the agreement for ratification and implementation by countries were adopted at the 7th Conference of the Parties in Marrakesh in 2001. These rules, known as the “Marrakesh Accords”, were adopted during the 1st Meeting of the Protocol Parties in 2005. Since May 2010, 191 countries and the European Union are parties to the Kyoto Protocol, which entered into force on February 16, 2005. 74 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE Türkiye became a party to the Kyoto Protocol on August 26, 2009, following the adoption of Law No. 5386 by the Grand Na- tional Assembly of Türkiye on February 5, 2009. Türkiye, which was not a party to the UNFCCC when the Protocol was adopted, was not included in the protocol’s Annex-B list, which defines the quantified emission limitation and reduction targets of An- nex-I parties. Accordingly, Türkiye had no liability of quantified emission reduction undertaken within the scope of the protocol, for the first obligation period of the Protocol, which ran from 2008 to 2012. 5.3. Türkiye’s Paris Agreement Process The Paris Agreement is regarded as a more realistic agreement that envisages a system based on all countries’ contributions in an effort to maintain global warming at 1.5 °C or below 2 °C, which had been a failed attempt with previous conventions and protocols. The Paris Agreement aims to improve the implemen- tation of the UNFCCC in the context of sustainable development and the eradication of poverty. It is important to note that Türkiye has been a supporter of these important aims from the very beginning, has contributed to the process, and has always been the party with a favourable atti- tude toward combatting climate change, notably within the pa- rameters of the Paris Agreement, which has kept the talks afloat. Türkiye signed the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016, alongside representatives from 175 countries at the High-Level Signing Ceremony in New York. Nonetheless, due to Türkiye’s objec- tions to the inequities in the section on liabilities, the ratification process of the agreement at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye could not be initiated. The Legislative Proposal on the Ratification of the Paris Agreement was ratified by the General Assembly of GNAT and became effective after being promulgat- ed in the Official Gazette No. 31621 dated October 7, 2021. CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 75 During the years when the Paris Agreement was not ratified, Tür- kiye took significant steps toward becoming an environmentally conscious country. As a result of these efforts, total greenhouse gas emissions amounted to 506.1 Mt CO2 equivalent in 2019. Chart 8: Green Gas Emission Statistics, 1990-2019 Source: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions-Statis- tics-1990-2019-37196 On the report of the results of the greenhouse gas (GHG) inven- tory, the total greenhouse gas emissions declined by 3.1 per cent in 2019 compared to the previous year, totalling 506.1 million tonnes (Mt) CO2 equivalent (eq.). Total greenhouse gas emis- sions per capita were calculated as 4 tonnes CO2-eq. in 1990, 6.4 tonnes CO2-eq. in 2018, and 6.1 tonnes CO2-eq. in 2019. Türkiye has been revising its policies in practically all areas of the fight against climate change in recent years, adhering to the principles of sustainable development, and is on its way to developing its legal, institutional, and economic systems in the context of the new climate economy. Türkiye is continuing its efforts to combat climate change by building infrastructure and utilising renewable and clean energy sources. 76 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE Chart 9: Türkiye’s Installed Capacity by Primary Energy Sources for the Years 2010 and 2020 Coal Liquid fuels Natural Gas Renewable+Waste+Waste Heat Multi-fuel 2010 Hydro Geothermal Wind Solar 0,15 Years 2020 40.000,0 - 30.000,0 - 20.000,0 - 10.000,0 - 0,0 - 11.950,3 19.613,0 1.593,3 189,4 21.599,4 13.302,1 107,2 5.325,6 4.889,1 30.983,9 15.831,2 94,2 1.613,2 8,832,4 1.320,2 0,0 6.667,4 1.502,8 MW Annual Development of Renewable Based Installed Capacity Share in Türkiye’s Total Installed Capacity CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 77 While Türkiye continues to make these efforts, its primary goal is to integrate into the international system and embrace the logic of sustainable development. The decision to sign the Paris Agreement will be a cornerstone in Türkiye’s sustain- able development process, providing new economic opportu- nities as well. There are numerous overlapping features of Türkiye’s Green Development vision and the Paris Agreement, which will be discussed in detail in the next chapter. The Paris Agreement’s approach of “ensuring development with low greenhouse gas emissions while avoiding harm to food production” and “sta- bilising the financial flow on the path to low-emission and climate-resilient development” align with Türkiye’s Green Development vision. At the same time, the Agreement’s ap- proach of “improving the ability to adapt and climate resil- ience to the adverse effects of climate change” highlights Türkiye’s climate change strategy, which has prompted the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation to change its name to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Cli- mate Change. 5.4. Türkiye’s Climate Change Strategy (2010-2023) and Action Plans (2011-2023) In order to implement the National Climate Change Strategy, which was prepared under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change and adopted by the Prime Ministry High Planning Council on May 3, 2010, the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), which consists of the strategic principles and targets for 2011-2023 on greenhouse gas emission control and adaptation to climate change, was prepared and put into effect on July 2011. The overall objective of the CCAP is to combat climate change by designating actions based on national circumstances to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, boost resilience through managing the effects of climate change, and thereby promote adaptation and climate change mitigation in Türkiye. The 78 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 79 CCAP analyses the greenhouse gas emission control and adaptation strategies to be implemented in sectors of first priority in the light of Türkiye’s unique circumstances and mainly focuses on institutional structuring, long-term cooperation, technology development and transfer, and financing. As part of the CCAP, the following subheadings are covered: • Energy • Buildings • Transportation • Industry • Waste • Agriculture • Land Use and Forestry • Common Intersectoral Issues and 541 actions are designated. Another key action plan in climate change, the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan (CCASAP), was also issued in 2011. The following sections are included in the CCASAP (For plans, see: (https://iklim.csb.gov.tr/eylem-plan- lari-i-306): • Water Resources Management • Agricultural Sector and Food Safety • Ecosystem Services, Biodiversity and Forestry • Natural Disaster Risk Management • Human Health • Common Intersectoral Issues The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change coordinates efforts to update the aforementioned Action Plans with medium- and long-term targets for 2030 and 2053. 80 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE 5.5. Regional Climate Change Action Plans Türkiye is geographically divided into seven regions. While the climates of these regions vary, they all face the same threat of climate change. When deciding on the actions to be devel- oped for Türkiye’s seven regions, it is critical to thoroughly assess each region and city’s economic, physical, and social conditions. To this end, the Ministry of Environment, Urbani- sation, and Climate Change assessed each region individually and prepared Regional Climate Change Action Plans (BİDEP). Sectors and areas with a high probability of being socioeco- nomically impacted, such as water resources, disasters, air quality, agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, ecosystems and biodiversity, economy, health, tourism, energy, coastal ar- eas, and urban infrastructure, were examined, and measures to be taken in response to the effects of climate change in the regions, as well as adaptation recommendations, were deter- mined in the Regional Climate Change Action Plans (BİDEP). In terms of Water Resources Management, it is recommend- ed that, first and foremost, special plans be prepared for each lake, wetland, and river without disturbing the ecological bal- ance by adequately examining the available groundwater and surface water resources in order to avoid future water deficit, that water purification systems be established and expand- ed, that measures be taken to reduce water loss and leakage rates during water use in order to achieve effective water management, that rainwater be harvested, that domestic and industrial wastewater be recovered, that efficient irrigation techniques be extended, and that studies and incentives to improve surface water quality be increased. In terms of Cities and Infrastructure, it has been stressed that local governments of all provinces should first prepare Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAP) within the boundaries CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 81 of each region. It is recommended that housing along rivers, canals, stream beds, and coastlines be prohibited to mini- mise the potential risk of flooding, landslides, and overflows, that construction on mountain slopes be banned, that rele- vant technical specifications be drawn up, and inspections be conducted, that investment in existing drainage systems be undertaken, and new drainage channels be constructed, that necessary measures be taken after sewerage system con- trols, and that information related to flood areas and borders be shared with local governments, relevant institutions, and residents, that the capacity of existing bridges and canals be enhanced by re-inspection, that potential dangers be antic- ipated through the establishment of early warning systems, and that precautionary research be expanded. In terms of Air Quality, it is recommended that provinces in each region properly implement their Clean Air Action Plans, that relevant studies on climate models and emission scenar- ios be conducted in order to mitigate climate change’s adverse effects on air quality, and that weather trends be analysed from both a meteorological and an air quality perspective. In terms of Energy, it is recommended that, first and foremost, the risk potentials of power plants within the scope of each region be determined, and necessary measures be taken, that climate change modelling be conducted and that investments in renewable energy be prioritised as a result of this modelling and renewable energy sources in the regions be assessed, that due diligence be paid to the design, licensing and inspection stages of the necessary measures to protect all systems and components of nuclear power plants under construction from potential threats such as floods, storms and droughts caused by climate change. In terms of Coastal Areas, it is recommended that, first and foremost, the possible rise in sea level in coastal areas as a 82 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE result of climate change be monitored, that its effects on resi- dential areas be assessed, that protection embankments such as waterway, flood barrier be constructed, that climatic data that provides input to hydrographic data, hydrodynamic data, etc. used in the design of structures needed by many sectors on the coasts (harbour, breakwater, piers, docks, coastal pro- tection structures, underwater facilities, floating structures, etc.) be created and the necessary measures be taken. In terms of Health, it is recommended that the adequacy of health facilities be assessed by examining previous disas- ters that occurred in the region and that necessary capacity enhancements be implemented, that the capacity of well- equipped healthcare teams against natural disasters be in- creased, that strategies for effective emergency response be planned, and the infrastructure be strengthened, that envi- ronmental health services be planned, that the capacity of re- search institutes in combating disease-causing microorgan- isms be increased. In terms of Disasters, it is recommended that action plans be developed for disasters that may occur as a result of climate change. It is recommended that necessary measures be taken and inspections be carried out in relation to structures posing life-threatening risks, that settlement not be allowed in high- risk locations, that necessary infrastructure works in settle- ments be completed in order to prevent economic damage in the case of a disaster, that efforts such as afforestation and greening, which promote soil adhesion without altering the natural texture, be exerted to prevent potential landslides, landslips, avalanches, and other disasters, that disaster in- surance be developed for all natural disasters, that disaster governance be implemented by developing national, regional, and local cooperation and coordination with disaster-related institutions and organisations. CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 83 In terms of Transportation, it is recommended that alternative transportation options, such as walking paths and smart bi- cycle applications, be developed to lessen pedestrian reliance on vehicles by promoting active transportation mechanisms that promote pedestrianism and bicycle use in urban transit, that efforts to reduce vehicle-borne emissions be exerted, that water transportation options connecting coastal settlements in the regions be expanded and efforts on the development of coastal transportation be encouraged. In terms of Tourism, it is recommended that extensive re- search on the effects of climate change on the tourism sector be conducted throughout the regions, that the tourism sec- tor’s institutional capacity and inter-institutional collabora- tion in adapting to climate change be increased. In terms of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, it is recom- mended that extensive soil surveys be conducted, that re- search to identify alternative products for agricultural prod- ucts that would be adversely affected  by changing climate conditions be undertaken, that farmers’ markets be estab- lished in each province in order to assure the sale of local products and that advanced irrigation technologies be pop- ularised to combat the threat of drought, that action plans be developed to combat agricultural disasters such as agri- cultural frost, hail, excessive precipitation, and drought, that animal husbandry and fishery activities adapting to climate change, production strategies, studies for improving animal species and breeds be encouraged. In terms of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, it is recommended that a detailed investigation of the increase in seawater tem- perature caused by climate change, the arrival of new spe- cies and its effects on the marine ecosystem be conducted, that changes in sea, lake, and river levels be monitored, that comprehensive investigation of the consequences of climate 84 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE change on agricultural and forest ecosystems be conducted and necessary measures be taken. In terms of Forestry, it is recommended that measures be disseminated by conducting necessary investigations to de- crease forest damage caused by forest fires, storms, insect in- vasions, and the formation of invasive species, all of which will be exacerbated by climate change and the risks to some valuable forest products and services, that close-to-nature management focusing on adaptation to climate change  be strengthened. In terms of Economy, the most critical economic sectors in the regions are analysed based on the climate scenarios. It is planned to carry out economic analyses regarding the vulner- ability of these sectors to climate change, integrate the data acquired into the investment decision process, and diversify the region’s economic activities in line with climate change. In addition to those plans, it is planned to analyse economic opportunities that will arise as a result of climate change and assess the economic effectiveness of adaption strategies in collaboration with the owners of local economic activity and other stakeholders. It is recommended that the potential con- sequences of climate change on general macroeconomic in- dicators (growth, income, employment, etc.) be dynamically analysed and reflected in national strategies/policies/plans, that an inclusive insurance premium policy be established by expanding insurance activities to all sectors, and the insur- ance rate be increased, that transportation infrastructure be developed in order to mitigate potential hazards in the trans- portation sector and to avoid disruptions in transportation. In terms of Sociocultural Structure, it is recommended that maps be created by identifying disadvantaged groups that will be adversely affected by climate change (elderly, chil- dren, women, disabled persons, etc.) and potential sociocul- CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 85 tural losses as a result of climate change be minimised, that Social Impact Assessments be conducted in order to foresee possible climatic migration movements, whether forced or voluntary and to develop policies in response and a Mandato- ry Migration Action Plan be prepared, that a knowledge and capacity-building programme for adaptation be developed by analysing the cultural and ideological meanings attributed to climate change by society, that efforts be exerted for the development of urban and rural infrastructure, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged provinces of the regions. In addition to these sectoral approaches outlined in the Re- gional Climate Change Action Plan (BİDEP) and briefly sum- marised here, it is clear that priority actions and measures have been identified for geographical regions. Priority actions have been described as follows: 1. Climate change effects will be factored into the spatial strategy plan and spatial plans at all scales. 2. In line with the goal of protecting human health and mit- igating the urban heat island effect, studies will be con- ducted on exposure, prevailing wind direction, the estab- lishment of air corridors, and increasing the amount of urban green space in urban planning and design. 3. Local governments in the region’s provinces will develop Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAP). 4. Site selections will be made in urban plans to minimise the impact of extreme climatic conditions on public ser- vice facilities. 86 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 87 5. Disaster risk analyses will be conducted on critical infra- structure facilities such as drinking water, wastewater treatment, and waste storage. 6. Coordination with relevant institutions on early warning systems for the protection of life and property in regions prone to natural disasters will be assured. 7. The use of energy-efficient, climate-sensitive, and ecologi- cally sound local architectural and local building materials for the construction of buildings in the region will be en- couraged, and their dissemination will be promoted. 8. Culverts will be built along the coast using horizontal drill- ing to allow water to flow downstream to the sea, and the capacity of existing culverts will be expanded. 9. Structural Condition Assessments will be conducted to prioritise the removal of bridges within the jurisdiction of municipal governments that have reached the end of their economic life or that have an insufficient cross-section width. 10. Separate sewer systems will be employed for rainwater and sewage. 11. To mitigate the risk of flooding in coastal areas, equip- ment will be developed that will serve as a recreation park during normal times and as a buffer zone during times of flooding. 12. Within the framework of our Ministry’s legislation and guidelines, the use of permeable materials and the con- struction of rainwater harvesting systems will be encour- aged to reduce the negative effects of precipitation and en- able the use of rainwater. 88 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE 13. Hazardous structures in disaster-prone areas of the re- gion will be identified, construction in these areas will be prohibited, and urban transformation activities will be carried out. 14. Buildings located near streambeds will be identified, and expropriation and transportation processes for eligible sites will be planned. 15. To avoid disrupting the natural structure of the stream- beds, inspections of facilities operating in the region will be tightened. 16. Waste management and zero-waste practices will be ex- panded in the region. 17. Measures to control air pollution caused by industrial and urban activities will be intensified, and the Clean Air Ac- tion Plans available in the region’s provinces will be effec- tively implemented. 18. The implementation of provincial marine litter action plans will be ensured. 19. Regular training and awareness-raising activities will be carried out for local governments and citizens to minimise the risks posed by disasters induced by climate change. 20. Temporal images will be provided in the designated re- gions to monitor the effects of climate change together with change analyses and submitted to the National Geo- graphic Information System. CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 89 The involvement of central and local governments, as well as regional development agencies, academia, the private sector, and citizens, is critical in the implementation of the afore- mentioned actions and measures. 5.6. The Green Deal Action Plan 2021 The European Union, which plays a more active role in the fight against the climate crisis than other global actors, has defined the mechanisms of a permanent and effective trans- formation ever so clearly for the first time with the European Green Deal. As a candidate for EU membership and a Cus- toms Union partner, Türkiye responds quickly to meet the criteria outlined in the Green Deal Action Plan and closely monitors the Green Deal’s radical transformation process, which encompasses all sectors of the economy. The transfor- mation process in question is likely to have significant effects on Türkiye’s trade with the EU, its largest export market. As a result, the work of harmonisation with technical legislation must be pursued with determination in Türkiye. Many concrete steps have been taken in both the public and private sectors within this context. For this purpose, the ef- fects of targeted policy changes, primarily related to the EU, on industry, agriculture, energy and transportation policies in connection with Türkiye’s foreign trade should be con- sidered holistically, and a road map should be developed to ensure our country’s adaptation by taking into account our country’s Customs Union involvement. To this end, under the coordination of the Ministry of Trade, a Working Group was formed at the Deputy Ministerial level on February 4, 2020, with the participation of the Presidency of Strategy and Bud- get of the Presidency, Ministry of Environment and Urban- ization and Climate Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Min- istry of Energy and Natural Resources, Ministry of Treasury 90 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE and Finance, Ministry of Industry and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. In addition to technical meetings with the Working Group’s member institutions, sector-specific discussions with private sector representatives took place. The need for change and transformation that the announced climate goals would bring to Türkiye was evaluated with the broadest possible perspective during the discussions, taking into account the close commercial and economic integration established with the EU under the Customs Union. The dis- cussions focused on designing a road map that would ensure Türkiye’s adaptation to the potential effects of the policies to combat climate change in the international trade order, as well as to protect and advance Türkiye’s integration with the EU and the Customs Union, and an Action Plan was de- veloped with the contributions of all the Institutions that are members of the Working Group. (For detailed information, see:https://ticaret.gov.tr/data/60f1200013b876eb28421b23/ MUTABAKAT%20YE%C5%9E%C4%B0L.pdf) The Presidential Circular on Türkiye’s Green Deal Action Plan, which was developed under the coordination of the Ministry of Trade with the contributions of the relevant public and private sector parties, was published in the Official Gazette dated 16.07.2021 and numbered 31543. Under the circular, it is planned to effectively implement the objectives and activities outlined in the Action Plan in collaboration with the public, private sector, and all relevant stakeholders via the “Green Deal Working Group” established under the coordination of the Ministry of Trade. The Green Deal Action Plan, which includes a total of 32 goals and 81 actions under nine main titles, is expected to guide Türkiye’s adaptation efforts in the field of green transformation. CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 91 The following statements are noteworthy in the Presidential Circular on the European Green Deal Action Plan: “In line with the changes envisaged in the European Green Deal and EU policies, the transformation in international trade and economy, and our 2023 and development goals; maintaining and improving our competitiveness in our exports, which are the locomotive of our economy, is critical for strengthening Tür- kiye’s integration into the global economy and supply chains with the advanced economic integration established with the EU under the Customs Union.” The “Green Deal Action Plan” will be a roadmap that is com- patible with the transformation policies that are taking place in the world economy, particularly in the EU, encourages green investments, contributes to the transformation of glob- al value chains, and thus supports value-added production. The international community’s priority agenda during the recovery period following the Covid-19 crisis has been the development of a sustainable and inclusive global economy. In this process, in addition to efforts to limit and reduce hu- man-induced greenhouse gas emissions, it has also become inevitable to deal with climate change in connection with other global problems such as economy, international trade, health, migration and security. The requirement for addi- tional reforms at the global level to achieve economic growth while taking the climate agenda into account and encourag- ing investors and businesses to operate in accordance with a scenario that restricts global warming has brought the fight against climate change to the centre of international econom- ic and trade policies. For this purpose, a working group was formed on February 4, 2020, with the participation of the Presidency of Strategy and Budget of the Presidency, Ministry of Environment, Urban- 92 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 93 ization and Climate Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Min- istry of Energy and Natural Resources, Ministry of Treasury and Finance, Ministry of Industry and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. This working group will closely follow the relevant developments, and all ministries and subsidiar- ies will take environmentally friendly steps. 5.7. Other Initiatives in Combating Climate Change A number of government organisations have developed cli- mate change action plans. Some of these plans have already been implemented, while others will be implemented as part of Türkiye’s 2023 and 2053 targets, as well as a number of agreements signed by the country. Among the policies and measures listed in the chapter entitled “Growth” in the New Economic Program for 2021-2023 are sustainable growth and the production and export of val- ue-added products. Policies and measures regarding foreign trade, listed in the chapter entitled “Current Account Balance” of the same program, include the following target; “Within the scope of the Türkiye-EU Customs Union, necessary work and preparations will be made in dialogue with the EU by coordinating the public sector, the private sector, NGOs and universities to ensure adaptation to the European Green Deal, regarding Turkish exports to the EU.” (For detailed informa- tion: https://ms.hmb.gov.tr/uploads/2020/09/YEN%C4%B0- EKONOM%C4%B0-PROGRAMI-K%C4%B0TAP%C3%87IK. pdf) As part of the “Economic Reforms Package”, which was unveiled on March 12, 2021, and aims to achieve sustainable, strong and high-quality economic growth in line with the economic structure in the post-pandemic period, green Or- 94 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE ganised Industrial Zones (OIZ) are being established in order to ensure green transformation in industrial sectors. Drafting a national and circular economy action plan, supporting R&D efforts in order to develop and promote necessary technol- ogies for green manufacturing, empowering the ecosystem that will enable the development of green finance, creating a sustainable and intelligent transport infrastructure are among the planned and already implemented actions in the Reform Package. (For detailed information: https://ms.hmb. gov.tr/uploads/2021/03/Ekonomik-Reformlar-Kitapcigi.pdf) According to the document titled Foreign Direct Invest- ment Strategy of Türkiye (2021-2023), it is critical for Türkiye to align its business environment, regulatory frame- work, and supplier base infrastructure with the Sustainable Development Goals and European Green Deal, particularly with the green economy and sustainable development con- text, in order to maintain and enhance its competitiveness in production and export-oriented FDI. The works of various in- stitutions and organisations are included in this context. (For detailed information: https://www.invest.gov.tr/tr/library/ publications/Lists/InvestPublications/Turkiye-Uluslarara- si-Dogrudan-Yatirim-Stratejisi-2021-2023.pdf). The significance of the green manufacturing approach in Tür- kiye’s industrial policies and practices will be greater, as out- lined under the chapter entitled “Digital Transformation and Industry Move” of the 2023 Industry and Technol- ogy Strategy, which is currently being implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Technology. Technology-intensive modernisation of infrastructure and businesses, and new in- vestments based on clean manufacturing practices, particu- larly in Organised Industrial Zones (OIZ), are being supported to reduce the environmental impact of industrial production. An Industrial Registry System is being developed in order to launch an “Economically Valuable Waste Tracking CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 95 System” within the framework of the circular economy. In- dustrial symbiosis emerges as an approach that supports en- trepreneurship and regional development with its potential to create new business areas, as well as innovation activities. According to the Strategy paper, efforts to expand industri- al symbiosis areas in Türkiye will continue in collaboration with relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of Environ- ment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, OIZs, and Industri- al Zones within the framework of the “Green OIZ Frame- work Development for Türkiye Project.” Furthermore, it is stated that cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change will be maintained for the use of environmental fee revenues in financing investments by industries in the development of environmental protection and waste management systems and practices. (For detailed information: https://www.sanayi.gov.tr/assets/pdf/SanayiS- tratejiBelgesi2023.pdf). With the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, draft- ed by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Türki- ye aims to make support models for energy efficiency more effective and develop sustainable financing mechanisms in light of its current needs and best practices in the world. “Na- tional Energy Efficiency Financing Mechanism” has been formed in order to provide additional financial support for implementing energy efficiency investments. (For detailed information: https://enerji.gov.tr/bilgi-merkezi-enerji-verim- liligi-ulusal-enerji-verimliligi-eylem-plani) Some of the goals defined in the Strategic Plan of the Min- istry of Agriculture and Forestry 2019-2023 include the following: raising the level of wealth in rural areas; ensuring stable food supply by increasing productivity and quality in agricultural production; ensuring food and feed safety in all processes from production to consumption, and taking nec- essary measures for plant and animal health and welfare. 96 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE Furthermore, the action plan includes goals such as preserv- ing fisheries and aquaculture resources and ensuring their sustainable operation; providing sustainable management of land and water resources; effectively combating climate change, desertification, and erosion; and protecting biological diversity and ensuring its sustainable management. (For de- tailed information: https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/SGB/Bel- geler/stratejikplan.pdf.) The ITS practices to be introduced as per The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Strategy Document and Action Plan (2020-2023) prepared by the Ministry of Trans- port and Infrastructure are expected to contribute to the re- duction of emissions by creating a transportation system in- tegrated with all modes of transportation in Türkiye, and one that uses current technologies in an efficient, sustainable, en- vironmentally friendly, and intelligent manner. (For detailed information: https://www.uab.gov.tr/duyurular/ulusal-akilli- ulasim-sistemleri-strateji-belgesi-ve-2020-2023-eylem-plani- yayinlandi ) The comprehensive changes that will be introduced by the Eu- ropean Green Deal, which is at the heart of the action plan and has been announced by the European Commission, are expect- ed to have a significant impact on Türkiye’s integration with the EU within the scope of the Customs Union, both through the carbon regulation mechanism at the border and technical regulations in trade, unless the necessary policy measures in terms of harmonization are implemented. In this regard, as an EU candidate country and EU Customs Union member, the policies, strategies, and regulatory changes announced within the scope of the Green Deal are taken into account when deter- mining the actions and goals in the action plan. In this context, regarding the legislative preparations includ- ed in the action plan and in accordance with the Presidential CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 97 Circular No. 2019/22 on “Coordination of Work Related to the European Union,” on matters within the tasks and responsi- bilities of government institutions and agencies; regulation drafts prepared for harmonisation with EU are being prepared in consideration of “The Guide on Principles to be Followed in Drafts to be Prepared for Harmonization to EU Acquis and References to be made to EU Legislation” on the official web- site of the Directorate for EU Affairs. Furthermore, it is critical to consider the views of the Directorate for EU Affairs. Due to its geographical location, Türkiye is one of the coun- tries that will be hit hardest by climate change, which is why Türkiye is contributing to efforts in the fight against climate change while upholding the realities of the country. In line with its position as a developing country, Türkiye is following a policy of green growth and restriction of the rising emis- sions trend. Adaptation efforts to climate change remain crit- ical. The measures taken or to be taken by other institutions and organisations in Türkiye can be outlined as fol- lows: Establishing the National Green Building Certification Sys- tem, Increasing efficiency in seaport operations, minimising envi- ronmental effects and supporting green seaport practices to secure sustainability, Protection of public spaces in the cities, particularly open and green sites; increasing access and security; reorganising these areas within the human-nature relationship with attention to women, children, elderly and disabled people, Improving the quality of life in line with the green city vision and opening Nation’s Gardens to assure adaptation to climate 98 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE change and increasing the number of green areas in our cities, Building healthy living spaces in our cities, spreading Peo- ple’s Gardens to 81 cities to improve the standards of urban green areas and quality of life, and completing their construc- tion on 81 million square meters of green spaces until 2023, Increasing the number of protected areas in the land and sea, establishing green corridors to manage these areas efficient- ly, and executing plans and infrastructure projects, Reflecting sustainable development goals on policies and cre- ating an effective tracking mechanism, Reflecting sustainable development goals on sectoral and thematic policy documents in line with national priorities and conditions, Seeking coherence with sustainable development goals in preparations of organisational strategic plans and sectoral and thematic policy documents, Establishing a well-functioning and participatory institution- al coordination mechanism in order to track and review sus- tainable development goals, Establishing a National Sustainable Development Coordina- tion Council with a flexible structure consisting of relevant public institutions as well as local governments, academia, private sector and NGO representatives under the leadership of the Presidency of Strategy and Budget in order to track and review the implementation of sustainable development goals at a national scale, Expanding the scope of the national index set in terms of pri- orities in parallel with the global sustainable development goals index set, Establishing national sustainable development goals track- ing and review system. CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 99 5.8. Steps Taken in Türkiye within the Past 20 Years as Part of Green Development While keeping an eye on international commitments and pro- cesses, Türkiye outlined a vision for itself on the green econ- omy, sustainable development and renewable energy fields and has been in an effort to realise this vision. Embracing a sustainable, extensive, balanced and environmentalist de- velopment approach, Türkiye believed this approach would counterbalance the disparity in the distribution of national income among different groups and regions. The importance of sustainable nature in reassuring fairness and equal oppor- tunities for current and future generations is obvious. Türki- ye approaches nature with a sense of responsibility for future generations and views it as a legacy. Considering interna- tional agreements as the collective accumulation of human- ity, Türkiye agrees that a gigantic problem such as climate change cannot be solved without international agreements like the Paris Agreement. Nevertheless, Türkiye had already taken various steps toward a green economy and sustainable development prior to joining the Paris Agreement. Zero-waste policy and green energy drive, smart building legislation, resource efficiency efforts, clean technology inno- vation, renewable energy incentives, heirloom seed support, and organic agriculture regulations, bioenergy agricultural supports, electric vehicle and new technology investments, wind/geothermal/solar energy incentives, green transporta- tion enterprises, green design and construction regulations, and incentives for clean energy (solar energy) use in house- holds are all examples of Türkiye’s firm belief in the green economy and the value Türkiye gives to environment. By tak- ing these steps, Türkiye prioritises its responsibilities to its own citizens and the world over simply adhering to an agree- ment’s commitments. 100 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE The Zero-Waste Project, which went into effect with a regu- lation on July 12, 2017, served to raise awareness among all stakeholders in the field of waste management. Thanks to Zero-Waste efforts, which our President’s spouse, Her Excel- lency Emine Erdoğan, regards as a trailblazer in Türkiye’s green transformation, significant achievements have been marked in the protection of natural resources and transition to the circular economy. Public institutions, in particular, have emerged as pioneers in both structural transformations and education about zero-waste initiatives. Through public service announcements and other means, society is being ed- ucated and informed to keep pace with this transformation. CLIMATE CHANGE AND TÜRKIYE | 101 102 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TÜRKİYE’S 2053 GREEN DEVELOPMENT VISION | 103 ÖNSÖZ | 103 06 T Ü R K İ Y E ’ S 2 0 5 3 G R E E N D E V E L O P M E N T V I S I O N 104 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TÜRKİYE’S 2053 GREEN DEVELOPMENT VISION | 105 0 6 T Ü R K İ Y E ’ S 2 0 5 3 G R E E N D E V E L O P M E N T V I S I O N I t is an obvious fact that climate change is a problem that transcends borders. Türkiye views climate change not as an environmental issue but as a development and na- tional security issue, which will have a profound impact on a wide variety of sectors. It is now a fact supported by sci- entific data that the current state of our world is a result of the wild development model adopted by the developed countries, in which they grow without regard for air, water, or land and consume excessively. This model has brought about floods across Asia and Europe, drought across Africa, hurricanes and wildfires across the Far East and Americas. Wildfires have increased by 30% in the last century as a result of global warming. Worldwide, new high-temperature records are be- ing set, with the number of days exceeding 50°C doubling in the last 40 years. Türkiye, located in the Mediterranean Ba- sin, is also experiencing its share of large-scale disasters in- duced by climate change. In the process of adaptation to the Paris Agreement, Türki- ye has declared that the year 2053 will mark the year when the country’s net emissions will be zero. To that end, signif- icant steps will be taken to balance the harmful effects of greenhouse gases produced by fossil fuels with the beneficial 106 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE effects of healthy seas and green spaces. This balance will be achieved by protecting our seas and expanding forests and protected areas. The Net Zero Emissions target will be achieved profitably, thanks to new policies, technologies, and lifestyles in all areas shaping the Turkish economy, from en- ergy production to agriculture, from transport to trade, and from industry to waste management. This way, the dual goals of increasing national income, and expanding exports, will be achieved along with Green Development Initiative. Türkiye is aware of the fact that preservation of the environ- ment and development are inextricably linked concepts. In- tegration into the low-carbon economy is a red line for Tür- kiye. Countries that disregard green development principles in pursuit of short-term gains will not only harm the world but also themselves. Climate change will not only result in significant economic losses in these countries due to ex- treme weather events and disasters, but they will also suffer economically as a result of their inability to benefit from the new employment opportunities created by the locomotive ef- fect of the Paris Agreement. Türkiye, which incorporated the concept of “green jobs” into its development strategy with the 7th Five-Year Development Plan (1996-2000), officially rec- ognised that environmentally friendly activities undertaken as part of labour force and industrial sector capacity develop- ment had beneficial effects on employment and production. At this point, it is clear that the 11th Development Plan (2019- 2023) places a premium on transformation in economic and social structures. This plan emphasised nature protection and energy conservation, as well as sustainable development goals (SDGs). Some examples of these goals include the estab- lishment of a National Green Building Certification System, the organisation of cities in line with the green city vision, and the establishment of a well-functioning and participa- tory institutional coordination mechanism for tracking and TÜRKİYE’S 2053 GREEN DEVELOPMENT VISION | 107 reviewing SDGs. When it comes to climate change and green economy efforts, Türkiye has been careful to adhere to and adopt international agreements and work toward them even if they are not yet signed. Türkiye is confident in its ability to achieve its Green Development goals, thanks to the roadmap established by framework plans such as the Paris Agreement, the Green Deal Action Plan, and the 2053 Vision. All work has been planned to keep up with this vision in both the public and private sectors. In this context, Türkiye will organise a climate council meet- ing in January 2022, and a long-term strategic action plan will be put forward, together with the private sector, non-govern- mental organisations, universities, industrialists and inter- national organisations. At this point, the preparations for the Climate Law and the initiatives for establishing the Emission Trading System are underway. Also, under the supervision of the Turkish Environment Agency, a mandatory deposit will be introduced in 2022. Green areas and forests, in oth- er words, sink areas, will be expanded by creating 400 Peo- ple’s Gardens and ecological corridors. In addition to these, the efforts to expand the natural protected areas and make the bicycle paths and green walking paths more widespread continue. By spreading smart city and zero waste practices all over Türkiye, energy-efficient and climate-sensitive residen- tial areas are being established. While there are significant efforts on renewable energy, which is one of the most import- ant pillars of the green economy, work is also underway to expand the country’s green energy capacity. In each of the 81 cities of Türkiye, industrial estates are moved out of the city to create sustainable, climate-friendly campuses where- by they will recycle their waste and provide benefits to air, water, employment and production. In order to foster awareness among young people, a Climate Ambassador will be chosen from each university, and the campuses of all 207 108 | TÜRKİYE’S GREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TÜRKİYE’S 2053 GREEN DEVELOPMENT VISION | 109 universities will be transformed into “Climate-Friendly Cam- puses” with the contribution of young people. Each student will be a part of the green transformation, and goals will be set to achieve “Zero Waste Universities”. Environmentally friend- ly technologies developed by academicians at universities will be supported, and these technologies will be used in all areas possible. In addition to its national transformation and in line with the principle of “International Cooperation for a More Liveable World”, Türkiye considers it a humanitarian duty and a debt to future generations to support the green transformation of the entire world in the fight against climate change. The achieve- ment of the Net Zero Emissions target is not only essential for Türkiye but also for the whole world in order to make it more liveable. Therefore, raising awareness on the importance of combating climate change should be the most urgent and im- portant item on the world’s agenda. At this point, Türkiye has the power, knowledge and experience to play an active role in international processes, in addition to fulfilling its duty. With this sense of responsibility, under the leadership of our Pres- ident Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye will use its strategic thinking and abilities in the environment and climate diplo- macy, as well as all its consultation mechanisms, to provide its international support to achieve this goal. As stated by our Honourable President, Türkiye is the only country that has the power to be the protector of all disadvantaged countries, the oppressed and those suffering, especially the small island countries such as Madagascar, in the fight against climate change. Türkiye is willing to take its efforts to the next level with its entire means in line with the Green Development Ini- tiative and the 2053 Net Zero Emissions target, and it has an important capacity in this respect. It is vital to start designing the future today. These issues are our shared responsibility so that we can provide more prosperous conditions for both cur- rent and future generations. Türkiye’s Green Development Initiative