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The First Updated Nationally Determined Contribution of the Republic of Türkiye
Türkiye became Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2004 and to the Kyoto Protocol in 2009. The Paris Agreement, prepared to accelerate efforts to combat climate change and to set more ambitious targets, was adopted by 196 Parties during the UN Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP21) held in Paris, France on December 12, 2015. The agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016. The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international agreement on climate change with the ultimate objective of keeping the global average temperature rise below 2°C compared to the pre-industrial period and, and if possible, limiting it to 1.5°C.
Adopting a principle based on common but differentiated responsibilities and relative capabilities, it was stipulated that the Parties would contribute to global climate action to the maximum extent possible through their individual efforts, and countries were requested to submit their “Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)” to the UNFCCC Secretariat once every 5 years detailing the activities they carried out to realize the main objective of the Agreement in terms of reduction, compliance, finance, technology transfer and capacity building.
The Republic of Türkiye submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in September 2015, in accordance with decisions 1/CP.19 and 1/CP.20, and in line with the ultimate objective of the Convention set out in Article 2. Within the framework of the Paris Agreement, Türkiye has set a greenhouse gas reduction target of up to 21% by 2030 compared to the baseline scenario. Subsequently, Türkiye signed the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016 and ratified it in Parliament on October 7, 2021 (published in the Official Gazette dated 07/11/2021 and numbered 31621). After Turkey ratified the Paris Agreement, the intended nationally determined contribution (NDC) ceased to be a Declaration of Intent and became Türkiye’s commitment. Like all parties to the UNFCCC, Türkiye is required to submit a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UNFCCC Secretariat every 5 years henceforth, each time pledging more ambitious reduction targets (and optionally climate change adaptation targets).
To this end, preparations for the NDC have been launched within the scope of the “Revision of Türkiye’s Greenhouse Gas Target and the Preparation of a Long-Term Climate Change Strategy” Project, which was launched on 12.16.2021 as a collaboration of the Presidency of Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
On April 13, 2023, the Government of the Republic of Türkiye submitted its updated First Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in the context of the Glasgow Climate Pact, which was adopted by the Parties at the 26th Conference of the Parties as a supplement to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.
With this declaration, Türkiye pledges to reduce its GHG emissions by 41% by 2030 (695 Mt CO2 equivalent in 2030) compared to the baseline scenario set out in the First Nationally Determined Contribution (and the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution), with 2012 as the baseline (reference) year. The updated First Nationally Determined Contribution of Türkiye encompasses the entire economy and includes comprehensive reduction and adaptation actions as well as assessments of the means of implementation. Türkiye intends to peak its emissions by 2038 at the latest. The new reduction target marks a significant step forward towards the achievement of the net-zero target by 2053, representing significantly higher ambition based on science and equity. This updated NDC also demonstrates Türkiye’s intention to implement the Paris Agreement in line with the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities and relative capabilities” enshrined in both the Agreement and the UNFCCC, and decision No. 1/CP.16, which recognizes Türkiye’s special circumstances under the UNFCCC and that “affirms that Türkiye is in a different position from other Parties listed in Annex I to the Convention”.
Türkiye’s Nationally Determined Contribution, Long-Term Climate Change Strategy and Mitigation Action Plan are being prepared to cover seven main sectors, namely energy, industry, buildings, transportation, agriculture, waste and LULUCF, and the sub-sectors that influence these sectors. Based on the same baseline scenario, reduction policies have been assessed using the TIMES Macro model. This is the first time in Türkiye that seven sectors have been studied under an integrated model. This integrated model is being applied all over the world, in the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, as well as in Türkiye. By evaluating the interactions, synergies and overlaps of all sectors, the model determines a roadmap for Türkiye’s 2030 GHG reduction target and 2053 net zero emission target.
More than 100 meetings involving Ministries and private sector associations have been held as part of this process for the collection of data, the determination of assumptions and policies, and the evaluation of the model results. The Climate Change and Adaptation Coordination Board (CCACB) has convened twice, and the high-level CCACB members have convened once under the chairmanship of the Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and a large number of well-attended meetings and one-on-one meetings have been held with institutions and private sector associations for the evaluation of the results, assumptions and data.
Taking into account international developments, Türkiye’s development policies target sustainable development by addressing economic, social and environmental issues in a well-balanced manner. Türkiye is among the countries most affected by climate change due to its geographical location. Pursuing a green growth policy, Türkiye contributes to global efforts to combat climate change with its special circumstances and national capabilities.
The Turkish government is implementing a substantial and robust package of new economy-wide policies and strategies to fulfill the net zero target. Meanwhile, the NDC has been prepared based on long-term planning and sustainable development priorities. Since combating climate change requires an inclusive and sustainable development approach, the policies to combat climate change have been determined in line with the Development Plan.
The process has been conducted in an inclusive, science and data-based, and result-oriented manner.
Türkiye’s new 2030 target builds on the modeled impacts of these policies and strategies and is aligned with the net zero target.