Minister Kurum: Climate Law will bring a new breath to our fight against climate change

According to the statement made by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change; Turkey's first 'Climate Law' proposal, which was submitted to the Presidency of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey last week, determined the general principles in the fight against climate change.

Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, who shared the content of the bill on his social media account, said , "Turkey's 'First Climate Law' will bring a new breath to our fight against climate change."

MORE EFFICIENT PRODUCTION PROCESS WILL BE LEGALLY SECURED

According to the proposal; equality, climate justice, precaution, participation, integration, sustainability, transparency, just transition and progress approaches will be taken as basis. Public institutions and organizations, real and legal persons will be obliged to comply with the measures and regulations to be taken in the public interest and to implement them in a timely manner. The proposal will ensure that the economy is resilient to negative climate-based outcomes. A cleaner and more efficient production process will be legally secured to increase the international competitiveness of sectors. The bill was prepared with an approach that protects not only industrial sectors but also cities, agriculture, animal husbandry and green areas.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE PRESIDENCY CLARIFIED

The proposal clarifies the duties and responsibilities of the Climate Change Presidency. Inter-institutional coordination, activities and standards will be determined by the presidency. The presidency will monitor progress on greenhouse gas emission reduction and climate change adaptation activities. The presidency will also be authorized to regulate market-based mechanisms for carbon pricing. The Emissions Trading System (ETS) will be established by the presidency and allocations will be distributed within this scope.

CLIMATE CHANGE PROVINCIAL COORDINATION BOARDS WILL BE ESTABLISHED

Greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced in line with the National Contribution Declaration, net zero emission target and strategy and action plans published by the Climate Change Presidency. Strategy and action plans will be prepared periodically on a national scale, implemented and their implementation will be monitored. A Provincial Climate Change Coordination Board will be established in each province, chaired by the governor and consisting of representatives of relevant institutions and organizations and local governments. The working procedures and principles of the board will be determined by the ministry. Local Climate Change Action Plans will be prepared by 31 December 2027 at the latest. The ministry may extend this period up to 1 year.

LOCAL PLANS WILL BE PREPARED UNDER THE GOVERNOR’S HEADQUARTERS

Local climate change action plans; will be prepared or have prepared under the coordination of the governor, with the participation of the metropolitan municipality in metropolitan cities, the provincial municipality and special provincial administration in other provinces, and the relevant institutions and organizations, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change, so that each province has a holistic plan. They will be submitted to the Provincial Climate Change Coordination Board for a decision. Sectoral vulnerability and risk analyses; will be prepared and updated periodically by the presidency using climate models to form the basis of strategy and action plans.

Türkiye GREEN TAXONOMY WILL BE ESTABLISHED

The Climate Change Presidency will prepare national, sectoral and thematic reports. It will develop climate change incentive mechanisms to facilitate the channeling of financial resources and will establish and implement the Turkey Green Taxonomy. Within the framework of circular economy targets and zero waste practices, the reuse of products, the use of waste as by-products, alternative raw materials and the mandatory usage rates of products obtained through recycling and recovery will be determined. A Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (BACDM) may be established to address the embedded greenhouse gas emissions of imported goods in the Turkish Customs Territory. The reporting, scope, content, procedures and principles regarding the CCDM will be determined by the Ministry of Trade in coordination with the relevant ministries.

THE USE OF CLEAN TECHNOLOGY WILL BE EXPANDED

In the planning and implementation tools prepared by the relevant institutions and organizations, the priority target will be to increase the technological self-sufficiency capacity and to expand the use of clean technologies. The Presidency will be authorized to cooperate with the relevant institutions to follow up on new technological developments aimed at combating climate change, such as carbon capture and storage technologies and hydrogen technology, to develop projects in these areas, to direct the institutions to conduct studies in these areas and to coordinate with the relevant institutions. Institutes and research and application centers may be established in coordination with the relevant institutions affiliated to the Presidency.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREEN TRANSFORMATION WILL BE ADDED TO SCHOOL CURRICULUM

Education and awareness programs will be organized to increase public awareness and sensitize society to the effects of climate change. Necessary studies for updating curriculum and teaching programs at all levels of education and training a green workforce will be carried out by the Ministry of National Education and the Council of Higher Education in coordination with relevant ministries. The procedures and principles of the applications will be determined by public institutions and organizations after receiving the opinion of the ministry.

EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS AGAINST DISASTERS AND FOOD SAFETY

Nature-based solutions and climate change-resistant practices that will observe the balance between the protection and use of natural resources, ecosystems and biodiversity will be expanded to ensure food security with a climate change-resistant product pattern. Risk assessment, monitoring, information and early warning systems will be developed based on integrated disaster management in order to reduce losses and damages caused by disasters caused by climate change. Relevant institutions and organizations will take measures to prevent carbon sink losses in forests, agriculture, pastures and wetlands in order to balance emissions towards achieving the net zero emission target. Effective management of water resources will be ensured against the effects of climate change. The quality and rate of marine and terrestrial protected areas will be increased. The preparation and adaptation obligations regarding the implementation and planning tools specified in the bill will be fulfilled by the relevant institutions and organizations by 31 December 2027 at the latest. The President will be authorized to extend this period up to 1 year.