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MULTIMEDIA
May 27, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 

Gov’t climate change strategy unacceptable, say NGOs

13 December 2009 / TODAY’S ZAMAN WITH WIRES, İSTANBUL
Environment groups have fixed their eyes on the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, expectantly waiting for the decisions that will come out of the convention.
For most environmentalists, Copenhagen is the world’s last hope for saving Mother Earth.

Turkey’s environmental groups have called on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to join the summit, where presidents, prime ministers, ministers and other representatives from 193 countries are discussing carbon emissions reduction, deforestation prevention and finding the funds to save the world.

In addition to their frustration with the prime minister’s failure to join the summit, Turkey’s environmental groups have expressed dissatisfaction with Turkey’s climate change strategy document, because it would not facilitate a mutual agreement in Copenhagen where nations of the world are trying to find ways to fight climate change.

“The document, which was presented under the slogan ‘Turkey becomes a partner to the solution’ has elements which could block a mutual agreement in Copenhagen, rather than helping it,” said a statement from Greenpeace Mediterranean, based in İstanbul. Greenpeace officials further stated that Turkey’s strategy document “is weak, shies from the seriousness of the fact of climate change and undermines Turkey’s capacity to combat it.” Hilal Atıcı from Greenpeace Mediterranean said that they were disappointed that Turkey’s proposed emission reduction target is just 7 percent by 2020 and that the country’s energy sector targets are behind those of China and the European Union.

Several environmental organizations, including Greenpeace Mediterranean and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Turkey), have repeatedly called for Turkey’s emission reduction target to be at least 30 percent by 2020.

Atıcı said that without a sufficient target, Turkey, a G-20 country, is declaring that it is a “dwarf.” Turkey’s emissions have risen quickly, from 170 million tons in 1990 to 372 million tons in 2007 as its annual per capita income rose from $3,000 in 1990 to $10,000 in 2007. And Turkish officials say the country and its emissions will continue to grow.

The national strategy document also declares that Turkey will also encourage “renewable sources and nuclear energy.” The document states that Turkey’s short-term target is to focus on “clean” sources of energy in all new buildings and prevent energy waste by using energy more efficiently. “The share of renewables in electrical energy production will be increased to 25 percent by 2020,” the document stated.

Greenpeace Mediterranean stated that in the field of electricity production renewable sources currently comprise 18-19 percent of the total produced energy, a figure that they believe should be increased to at least 30 percent. The NGO also called for Turkey to aim for a target of 20 percent renewable energy usage in both heating and transportation, in parallel with EU targets.

The medium-term targets of the country, in the next one to three years, are to determine buildings’ energy efficiency potential and support those buildings with materials to increase energy efficiency.When it comes to long-term, three-to-10-year targets for Turkey, the document stated that native sources of energy, including coal, hydropower, wind, geothermal and solar, will be utilized. In addition, it said that greenhouse gas emission inventories will be prepared in residential areas and new strategies will be followed to encourage residents to use their local resources.

Turkey also plans to enter the carbon trading market to offset greenhouse gas emissions.

 
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