A webinar hosted by InBusiness Magazine, a sister publication of Daily Sabah under the Turkuvaz Media Group, on Tuesday addressed the outcome of the United Nations Climate Conference, otherwise known as COP27, and focused on a road map to sustainability in Turkey.
Orhan Solak, head of the Department of Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment, Urban Planning and Climate Change, who spoke at the Webinar, said Turkey is located in the Mediterranean basin, one of the most sensitive regions in terms of the impact of climate change, and that it witnesses disasters related to climate change increasing in quantity and density daily.
He said 2022 has been a year the country and the world were embattled with disasters related to climate change, adding that “Climate change is an issue beyond politics and affects every part of society, with its environmental, economic and social impact,” and calling for urgent and efficient measures to combat it.
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According to Solak, the country took important policy steps in recent years in the fight against climate change.
In his words, “Last year, our president announced the 2053 net-zero emission goal and Türkiye ratified the Paris Agreement and this sped up our work against climate change. Preparations are made for a Climate Law and it will define a framework for every agency and institution’s responsibility on this issue. Türkiye will also enact an Emissions Trading System.”
Also speaking at the event, the deputy head of the Foreign Ministry’s General Directorate of Environment, Climate Change and Trans-boundary Waters, Adnan Altay Altınörs, bemoaned the fact that climate discussions resulted in little progress despite “spectacular climate conferences,” referring to the recent COP27 gathering where “high-ranking officials issued messages but those did not translate into action.”
According to him, COP27’s most significant outcome was the establishment of a “loss and damage fund” but this was only “a decision” just yet.
In his words, “So, 2023 will be a difficult year. It won’t be only about the fund and will be a year when we will see a review of commitments to curb emissions,” noting that the international community registered a 14.5% rise in the reduction of emissions since 2010 but this figure was earlier projected as 45%.
Story was adapted from Daily Sabah.
