Istanbul (Turkey News): The Climate Network, representing 16 civil society organizations active in the environmental sector in Turkey, on Tuesday outlined its expectations for the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, scheduled for November in Turkey.
A meeting held in Istanbul discussed measures to tackle climate change, with participants emphasizing the need for more concrete steps beyond the current framework. The member organizations focused on additional initiatives alongside the environmental law set to be implemented in the summer of 2025, aimed at addressing climate change in line with Turkey’s Green Growth vision and net-zero emissions targets.
Under the law, actions are to be taken within a framework that considers national development priorities and specific circumstances to meet the net-zero emission goals.
Speaking to Anadolu News, WWF Turkey senior expert and one of the Climate Network founders, Pınar Seren Geretli, noted that the biggest shortcoming of the law is the absence of a clear emissions reduction target. She highlighted that adjustments, such as modifications to the definition of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and allocating a portion of revenue for a just transition, were made based on the Climate Network’s recommendations.
According to the law, revenues generated from the ETS and related carbon markets can be recorded as special income within the general budget and used for climate action and green transformation; up to 10% of this revenue may be allocated for a just transition.
