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Turkey ratified the Paris climate agreement on Wednesday and joined the global fight against climate change a few weeks before the important summit in Glasgow, Scotland.
Although Turkey was one of the first countries to sign 2016 Paris Agreement, It delayed its approval because it tried to reclassify it as a developing country rather than a developed country to avoid stricter emission reduction targets and benefit from financial support. It is one of six countries-including Iran, Iraq, Eritrea, Libya and Yemen-that has not approved it.
On Wednesday, 353 members of the Turkish Parliament unanimously approved the agreement.
When the Turkish President Erdogan announced the ratification of the agreement at the UN General Assembly last month, he said that countries that bear the “historical responsibility” for climate change should make their best efforts.
“Who has caused the greatest damage to nature, our air, our water, our soil and the earth; anyone who savagely exploits natural resources needs to make the greatest contribution to combating climate change,” he said.
The United Nations welcomed Turkey’s move. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres spokesperson Stephen Dujarric told the Anadolu News Agency: “It is vital that all countries continue to raise their ambitions. The Secretary-General has made it clear that the G20 countries must take the lead.”
When a flash flood occurred in the Black Sea region of Turkey in August, members of the rescue team evacuated a girl [Onder Godez/Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Authority via Reuters]One of the biggest threats
Turkey has felt the full power of climate change. In July and August, floods and wildfires occurred in rapid succession, killing about 100 people. Large areas of the country have also been affected by long-term droughts.
Climate experts warned that the Mediterranean basin, including Turkey, is facing severe drought and desertification risks.
Compared with pre-industrial levels, the stated goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit global warming to within 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit)-preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius. Since then, the world has heated up by 1.2 degrees Celsius (3.2 degrees Fahrenheit).
According to the agreement, countries are expected to formulate greenhouse gas reduction actions based on their economic conditions.
According to a report by the British Council last month, about 95% of young people in Turkey believe that climate change is one of the biggest threats facing the country. The report is part of its Global Youth Climate Action Letter.
A piece of scorched earth
Prior to Turkey’s approval, the Climate Action Tracking Project stated that Ankara’s efforts to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement were “seriously insufficient”.
According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System, nearly 200,000 hectares (494,000 acres) of forests have been burned in Turkey this year, which is more than five times the annual average value from 2008 to 2020.
Turkey’s nationally determined contribution plan is to reduce emissions from 1.175 billion tons to 929 million tons by 2030, a 21% reduction. In 2012, Turkey’s total carbon dioxide emissions were 440 million tons, of which the energy sector accounted for 70.2%.
Ankara says Turkey’s greenhouse gas emissions It is lower than the EU and OECD average, accounting for 0.7% of global emissions.
It also stated that the country has financial and technical constraints in addressing climate change and hopes to obtain funding and technology to achieve its goals.
Turkey relies on imported fuel and natural gas, as well as coal-fired and hydroelectric power plants to meet its energy needs. However, the environmental organization said it has ample opportunities to develop renewable energy.
In July, wildfires destroyed large tracts of woodland on the southern coast of Turkey, killing 8 people and forcing thousands to flee. As firefighters continued to put out the fire, parts of the country’s northern Black Sea coast were flooded, killing 82 people.
Earlier this year, a layer of marine mucus covered the Marmara Sea, threatening marine life. At the same time, hundreds of carcasses of juvenile and adult flamingos were found in the drought-affected Tuz Lake, a breeding ground for birds.
The government recognizes that climate change is the main cause of these disasters, but has done little to protect the environment. While promoting the country’s urbanization, it allows deforestation for infrastructure and mining.
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