Türkiye

Türkiye is ranked 52nd in the CCPI – up one spot but remaining among the very low overall performers. It receives a low rating in GHG Emissions and Energy Use, a very low in Climate Policy, and a medium in Renewable Energy.

Officially, the country is aiming for net zero by 2053. However, there is no clearly defined pathway or roadmap for decarbonisation. The CCPI country experts, thus, see an absence of credible legal emissions reduction frameworks. Also, the current NDC, which foresees a 16% emissions increase by 2035, does not obligate Türkiye to reach its emissions peak before 2038. Moreover, purchase guarantees for coal far exceed these dates, further damaging Türkiye’s credibility in international climate negotiations.

With a comprehensive subsidy package for domestic coal generation, including price guarantees, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources plans to uphold high levels of support for carbon-intensive electricity generation, slowing progress in the rollout of renewables. New gas and oil reserves are continually being explored and neither a phase-out nor a substantial phase-down are currently in sight. Turkey also is planning to substantially expand its nuclear power capacity. Given the current economic situation, the experts regard this as unrealistic and can also see it as a distraction from expanding renewables.

Despite fossil dominance, some progress seen in renewable energy, as new ETS falls short in some areas

Some of the experts do highlight progress in renewable energy, with a record number of new installations entering the grid. Overall, the experts call for continuing auction mechanisms toward a faster renewables rollout, and for an end to all subsidies for fossil fuel use, a just transition plan for coal regions, and the cancellation of purchase guarantees that prevent the prioritised integration of renewables into the electricity system.

The new 2025 Climate Law that went into effect in early July 2025 contains some progressive policies such as an Emissions Trading System (ETS), which is expected to start in early 2026 but heavily relies on carbon offsets and voluntary initiatives. Additionally, certificate caps are unclear, curbing the ETS’s impact on future emissions.

The electric vehicle (EV) market is making headway and the charging infrastructure is being built at a corresponding pace. Railway investments have increased over the last 10 years, with the share of investments rising from 33% in 2013 to 55% in 2024, while the share of road investments in the portfolio remains high (~40%). The experts are critical of the fact that many cities have lost access to train services at the same time, and the focus is being placed solely on expanding high-speed rail.

Energy efficiency is a notably weak point and late emissions peak needs addressing

Energy consumption in buildings has grown substantially since the 1990s. The experts criticise the lack of effective energy efficiency renovation policies in buildings, limited deployment of best available technologies, and new housing regulations that make the building stock increasingly dependent on fossil fuels.

Despite strong constitutional protection of Türkiye’s forests, flawed enforcement and exemptions for mining companies have adversely impacted the country’s carbon sinks. An amendment to the Mining Law was passed in mid-2025, giving the mining sector the right to cut olive groves for coal mine expansion.

The experts agree that numerous aspects of decarbonisation have not been properly addressed. They call for a coal phase-out pathway including the cancellation of purchase guarantees mentioned above and an effective carbon price to achieve a much earlier emissions peak than 2038. They also note that a binding roadmap for industrial decarbonisation also is crucial for meeting national and international climate obligations.

Key Outcomes

CCPI Experts

The following national experts agreed to be mentioned as contributors for this year’s CCPI:

• Dr. Umit Sahin (Sabanci University Istanbul Policy Center)
• Ozgur Gurbuz (Ekosfer Association)
• Onder Algedik