The Climate Law Proposal has determined general principles in combating climate change

According to the statement made by the Ministry, the general principles in the fight against climate change were determined with the Climate Law Proposal submitted to the Presidency of the Parliament last week.

According to the proposal, the main approaches will be equality, climate justice, prudence, participation, integration, sustainability, transparency, just transition and progress.

Public institutions and organizations, as well as real and legal persons, will be obliged to comply with and implement the measures and regulations to be taken in the public interest. The proposal will ensure that the economy is resilient to negative climate-based outcomes.

A cleaner and more efficient production process will be legally guaranteed to increase the international competitiveness of the sectors.

Strategy and action plans will be prepared on a national scale

On the other hand, the proposal clarified 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 reductions and climate change adaptation activities. The Presidency will also be responsible for regulating 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.

Greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced in line with the National Contribution Declaration, net zero emission target and the 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.

Local plans will be prepared under the chairmanship of the governor

A Provincial Climate Change Coordination Board will be established in each province, consisting of representatives from relevant institutions and organizations and local governments, chaired by the governor. The working procedures and principles of the board will be determined by the ministry.

Local Climate Change Action Plans shall be prepared by 31 December 2027 at the latest. The Ministry may extend this period for up to one year.

In addition, local climate change action plans will be prepared or have prepared in a holistic manner for each province to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change, 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 relevant institutions and organizations. 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 for strategy and action plans.

The Climate Change Presidency will prepare national, sectoral and thematic reports. Climate change incentive mechanisms will be developed to facilitate the channeling of financial resources and the Türkiye Green Taxonomy will be established and implemented.

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.

The use of clean technologies will be expanded

A Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (BCDM) 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 BCDM will be determined by the Ministry of Trade in coordination with the relevant ministries.

Increasing technological self-sufficiency capacity will be determined as the primary target in the planning and implementation tools prepared by the relevant institutions and organizations, and the development and widespread use of clean technologies will be the basis.

The Presidency will be authorized to follow up on new technological developments aimed at combating climate change, such as carbon capture and storage technologies and hydrogen technology, to cooperate with relevant institutions to develop projects in these areas, to direct institutions to work in these areas, and to coordinate with relevant institutions.

Institutes and research and application centers may be established in coordination with relevant institutions affiliated to the Presidency.

Turkey's "First Climate Law" will bring a new breath to our fight against climate change! 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/mFZXpclCxf

— Murat KURUM (@murat_kurum) February 25, 2025

Climate change and green transformation will be added to school curricula

On the other hand, education and awareness programs will be organized to increase public awareness and sensitize society about the effects of climate change.

The necessary work to update the curriculum and teaching programs at all levels of education and to train a green workforce will be carried out by the Ministry of National Education and the Council of Higher Education in coordination with the relevant ministries. The procedures and principles of the practices will be determined by public institutions and organizations after receiving the opinion of the Ministry.

In order to ensure food security with a climate change resistant product pattern, nature-based solutions that will observe the balance between the protection and use of natural resources, ecosystems and biodiversity will be expanded to include climate change resistant practices. In order to reduce losses and damages caused by disasters related to climate change, risk assessment, monitoring, information and early warning systems will be developed based on integrated disaster management.

In order to balance emissions towards achieving the net zero emission target, relevant institutions and organizations will take measures to prevent carbon sink losses in forests, agriculture, pastures and wetlands.

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 for up to one year.

Minister Murat Kurum also shared the following on his social media account: "Turkey's 'first Climate Law' will bring a new breath to our fight against climate change."

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