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Sustainability in The Era of Türkiye

strategy. The European Green Deal, which is generally known by the public
via the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), basically includes the
main policy goals, of Europe towards becoming a carbon-neutral continent, in
9 main thematic areas, from combating climate change to a green and circular
economy, and from transportation to zero pollution (Announcement of the
European Green Deal).
On the one hand, such positive developments were experienced, and on the
other hand, the production and consumption-indexed patterns continued to
increase the pressure on the planet, leaving permanent damage. The Emissions
Gap Report 2022 (UN Environment Programme, 2022), issued by the UN
Environment Programme (UNEP) has stated, in the light of current commitments,
that the global temperature increase will be +2.8℃ higher by the end of the
century compared to the pre-industrial period, and that the temperature rise will
be +2.4℃ to +2.6℃ higher even if the nationally-determined contributions are
fully implemented. Similarly, according to the third part of the Sixth Assessment
Report issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in
2021-2022, it is required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at least by 45%,
compared to the current situation, 2030, in order to limit the temperature
increase to +1.5℃, and at least by 30% for a temperature increase by +2,0℃ till
2030 (IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, 2021-2022).
The “Global Risk Report for 2023”, issued by the World Economic Forum
(WEF), shows that 5 risks out of the top 6 risks predicted to have an impact
on the world economy in the 10 years are focused on the environment and
climate (World Economic Forum, 2023). Furthermore, the circularity rate of our
world has decreased to the level of 7.2% according to the 2023 assessments of
the Circularity Gap Report (Circularity Gap Report, 2023), which has evaluated
the situation, since 2015, in the circular economy, which is an independent
source-based growth approach, on a global basis. Before the pandemic, that
rate was around 9%.
All these developments show us that humanity is actually under great threat.
Therefore, it has become a necessity, rather than a choice, to experience multi-
dimensional green transformations and changes from lifestyle to business
models, and from production to consumption. In this respect, countries have
accelerated their transformation efforts, especially in the field of energy, and
the low-carbon or green growth trends have increased.

Effective Green Transformation in Türkiye

With a rich biodiversity, Türkiye, which is located at the junction of three
big continents such as Europe, Asia and Africa, and at the center of trade and
growth as well as an important energy, trade and logistics corridor, and which

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