Turkey promotes the strengthening of scientific and technological capacity needed by sustainable consumption and production in developing countries under bilateral and multilateral agreements Turkey signed. Under Sustainable Tourism, Green Star certificate has been awarded to environmentally friendly accommodation facilities since 2008 to protect the environment, to reduce the negative impacts of the touristic facilities to the environment and to encourage the facilities in this direction. In this way, the environmental, socio-cultural and economic sustainability of the tourism sector is contributed by bringing the amount of water, electricity, energy, chemical and solid waste under control. As of March 2019, Green Star Certificate was issued to 476 facilities in Turkey. In 1993, Turkey was included the Blue Flag awarded to beaches, marinas, and yachts with the necessary standards in terms of cleanliness, maintenance, hardware and trust to ensure sustainability on the coasts. While there were 258 beaches, 13 marinas and 4 yachts with blue flags in 2008, this figure gradually increased in the last 10 years and as of 2018, 459 beaches, 22 marinas and 10 yachts were awarded a blue flag. In the Blue Flag Scheme, our country ranked third in the beach category and eighth in the marina category in 2018. NEXT STEPS: The following policies will be implemented in the upcoming years to achieve SDG 12: • Transferring environmental taxes to environmental support mechanisms, • Improving financial mechanisms for sustainable investments, • Encouraging the work of “Zero Waste” at an industrial scale, • Increasing the number of municipal waste collection centres, • Promoting production and use of alternative goods which are environmentally less harmful such as bioplastic, • Promoting products with reduced lifetime environmental impact using eco-labels; scale up the system to provide scientific, accurate information to consumers, • Disseminating notices for consumers such as eco-labels, content of recycled materials, life cycle analysis, • Increasing the number of activities to raise awareness of consumers and producers, in particular SMEs, on sustainable consumption and production issues, • Certifying the sustainability of the products, promoting branding and encouraging the increase of exports in this way, • Establishing sectoral platforms on sustainability, • Increasing raw materials in areas that are inadequate in production, • Improving green purchasing capacity and developing certificate tools, • Reducing unconscious consumption in tourism, • Building capacity on sustainability report and integrated reporting. 109 TURKEY’s 2nd VNR 2019 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS “Strong Ground towards Common Goals”
5.13. SDG 13. TAKE URGENT ACTION TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS Located in the Mediterranean basin, Turkey is one of the countries most affected by climate change. Droughts, floods and extreme weather events in recent years are the most important indicators of this, which also began to create significant pressures on forest, water and land resources, and affected economic and social life. Therefore, Turkey attaches special importance for climate change adaptation. In this context, ecosystems and biodiversity, and such socio-economic sectors as water resources, agriculture, industry, energy, transport, housing, tourism, forestry and health sectors stand out. Turkey is a developing country in the upper middle-income group according to World Bank classification. Under the UNFCCC, Turkey is listed in the Annex I by being recognised with is special circumstances from other countries. Turkey, signed the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016, undertakes “up to 21% reduction in GHG emissions from the Business as Usual (BAU) level by 2030” in its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) submitted to UNFCCC. This reduction is aimed to be realised through the measures to be taken and policies to be implemented in the energy, industrial processes, agriculture, land use and waste sectors across the economy. Being responsible for 0.7% of total global emissions since the industrial revolution, Turkey declared the need for using international assistance for improving finance, know-how, technology and capacity, including the Green Climate Fund, to achieve the mitigation target outlined in its INDC. POLICIES In addition to NDPs and strategic plans of relevant public institutions, key policy documents setting climate change mitigation and adaptation policies include the National Climate Change Strategy, Climate Change Action Plan, Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan, Energy Efficiency Strategy Paper, Turkey National Renewable Energy Action Plan, National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, Electricity Market and Supply Security Strategy Paper, Turkey Disaster Response Plan, Turkish Industrial Strategy Document, National Intelligent Transport Systems Strategy and Action Plan, National Drought Management Strategy and Action Plan, Action Plan to Combat Erosion, Flood Action Plan, Upper Basin Flood Control Action Plan, Integrated Urban Development Strategy and Action Plan (KENTGES), National Strategy and Action Plan to Combat Desertification, National Biological Diversity Strategy and Action Plan, National Recycling Strategy and Action Plan, National Wetland Strategy and Action Plan, National Strategy and Action Plan for Combatting Agricultural Drought. The key components of the policy framework in line with SDG 13 are as follows: • Contributing to combat global climate change by emission reduction and adaptation in line with the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, • Increasing the share of domestic and renewable energy sources by considering supply security, • Increasing energy efficiency, reducing losses and illegal use of electricity, • Prioritising transport systems that provide energy efficiency and use of clean fuel and environmentally friendly vehicles, • Encouraging railway and maritime transport and developing combined transport opportunities, • Developing building standards for safe, energy efficient, environmentally friendly and expand energy efficiency practices in buildings, • Strengthening the integration of transportation infrastructure with other infrastructures by encouraging public transport in urban transportation, • Making use of green growth opportunities in areas such as energy, industry, agriculture, transportation, construction, services and urbanisation; promote new business areas, R&D and innovation that provide environmentally conscious economic growth, • Promoting recycling and reuse through the implementation of integrated waste management principles, • Taking necessary measures to provide water saving in basins, to combat against drought and to prevent pollution by evaluating the effects of climate change and all activities in water basins on water quantity and quality , • Ensuring conservation, sustainable use and efficient management of water resources, • Combatting against desertification and erosion effectively, monitoring the environmental and social impacts of agricultural activities on soil resources and increasing preventive measures, • Strengthening management capacity and mechanisms for disaster risk reduction. 110 TURKEY’s 2nd VNR 2019 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS “Strong Ground towards Common Goals”
LEGISLATION The current legislation, in particular the Constitution and the Environmental Law, lays down provisions for the prevention of environmental pollution and improving the environment. The legislation covers the purpose of controlling the emissions by regulating reduction and management of wastes, the efficient use of energy and natural resources, and the use of environmentally friendly technologies in the industry. In terms of emissions control, it lays down principles on monitoring, reporting and verifying greenhouse gas emissions from energy and industrial plants, and on using economic instruments and incentives. The legislation lays down preventive and supervisory provisions for issues such as exhaust gas emissions, emissions from heating. Regulations for soil and land protection, combating drought, agriculture, agricultural insurance and supports, use of groundwater, control of disaster risks and natural disaster insurance were made in relation to the adaptation to and reduction of the impacts of climate change. IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS AND IMPROVEMENT AREAS SDG 13 is assessed on four focus areas: i. Adaptation to climate change; ii. Mainstreaming climate action into policies; iii. Increasing awareness and capacity; and iv. Climate finance. Under the adaptation to climate change, in recent years, it is observed that there is a considerable increase in the number of disasters such as hurricanes, floods, lightning strikes, extremely hot weather and hailstorms in Turkey. The economic losses caused by floods due to climate change is second only to the economic losses resulted from seismic disasters. It is important to strengthen the adaptation capacity of all institutions and segments, especially of those vulnerable for adverse effects of climate change. Disaster policies are prioritised to build resilience to climate-related risks. Agriculture, is one of the most affected sector by adverse effects of climate change. It is foreseen that the main impacts of climate change on Turkey will be drought, desertification, decline in agricultural productivity, loss of biological diversity and ecosystem services, increase in forest fires, epidemics and pests. It is therefore important to increase water-saving practices in agriculture, prevention of water pollution, protection of agricultural land, pasture rehabilitation, combating erosion, protection of agricultural genetic diversity, early detection of risks, selection and development of drought resilient species/strains in vegetative and animal production. Flood Management Plans and Drought Management Plans are prepared for 25 river basins located in our country to reduce disaster risks. Through these plans, a transition will be made from a crisis management approach to a risk management approach. Flood Management Plans have been completed in 5 basins, and work is underway in 18 basins. It is targeted to complete these plans for all basins by the end of 2021. Drought Management Plans have been completed in 9 basins and work is underway in 6 basins. These plans will be completed for all basins by the end of 2023. Climate change scenarios on water resources in all basins of Turkey were determined within the Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources Project (2013-2016). Measures for adaptation were determined by making water budget modelling in different sectors through the project. In the context of the mainstreaming climate action into policies, since the early 2000s, climate change was addressed in the environmental policies of NDPs covering also energy, transportation, agriculture and water resources sectors. In 1990, CO2 equivalent emissions per capita in Turkey was 3.8 tons/capita while this value was calculated as 6.6 tons/capita in 2017. Turkey’s greenhouse gas emission per capita is below the EU averages, OECD, G-20 and the world. Turkey, became a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2004, signed Paris Agreement for the implementation of the Convention in 2016 but has not become a party to the Agreement yet. In the 10th NDP, in addition to sustainable development, the “green growth” approach was adopted to combat with climate change. Climate change policies were linked with waste, emission reduction, energy, water and resource efficiency and recovery practices and policies to ensure inter and intra sectorial solutions. Actions and measures contributing to the control of greenhouse gases were determined under the Priority Transformation Programmes in the 10th NDP. Policies and actions related to energy, buildings, industry, transportation, agriculture, land use and forestry and waste sectors were determined under reduction, adaptation, technology transfer, financing and capacity building sections of the National Climate Strategy and Climate Change Action Plan. The Coordination Board on Climate Change and Air Management (CBCCAM) is responsible for the coordination of these policies and actions and for identification of domestic and foreign policies. 111 TURKEY’s 2nd VNR 2019 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS “Strong Ground towards Common Goals”
In the Energy Efficiency Strategy, it is aimed to reduce the energy intensity by 20% compared to its level in 2011. In the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (2017-2023), this target is updated as 14% reduction in primary energy consumption by 2023 and it is aimed to provide 24 million Mtoe energy saving in total. The share of renewable energy in Turkey’s electricity production is aimed to be increased to 30% level by 2023. Even in 2017, which was dry and set record highs in gas consumption, the share of renewable energy resources increased to 29.7% and the target was accomplished. Various incentive mechanisms were developed to increase the use of renewable energy resources. Feed-in tariff (7.3-13.3 cents/kWh according to the energy resource) is determined in electricity generation based on renewable energy resources by YEKDEM established in 2010. YEKDEM is considered as the most important incentive for renewable energy resources in Turkey. A tender was completed for a solar energy plant with 1,000 MW capacity by the Renewable Energy Resource Zones (RE- Zone) mechanism established in 2016. In addition, 1,000 MW wind power capacity and manufacturing and R&D centre for wind turbine with an annual production capacity of 400 MW will be established. This program is planned to be expanded to other renewable energy technologies. Turkey will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in electricity generation by increasing the share of renewable energy in electricity generation at a lower cost through RE-Zone program. By the strategy and action plans developed for adaptation to climate change, activities are undertaken for combating agricultural drought, the preparation of regional flood plans and their integration into provincial disaster plans, training to improve public awareness and participation, development of early warning system in flood combating, monitoring of effects of heat waves, extreme colds, floods, storms, droughts, etc. due to climate change on public health and taking precautions. While significant progress was made in the area of policy integration, there is a need to increase work in such areas as strengthening institutional capacities, transposition of strategies to sectoral and local level, systematic evaluation of climate risks, and monitoring of progress on adaptation. In the context of awareness-raising and capacity increase, issues related to climate change are included in the curriculum at various levels of education. In addition, community’s sensitivity to climate change is increasing through the works on training, research, publication and information by public, local administrations and civil society. Activities on capacity building and awareness raising are led by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) to identify and mitigate disaster risks that may be caused by climate change. Capacity building to manage severely affected areas and communities by floods and overflows projects are implemented with international collaboration in Turkey. Climate response and adaptation have gained substantial momentum at local level as well with some pioneering municipalities implementing climate action plans. More members from Turkey are joining the international networks formed to increase local awareness and knowledge, ensure effective communication and cooperation among local actors, and share good practices and generated knowledge. Turkey, together with Kenya have undertaken the co-chair role on the theme “Infrastructure, Cities and Local Action”, one of the nine working groups formed in the context of UN Climate Summit to take place in September 2019. As for climate finance, Turkey does not have the obligation to provide financial support to developing countries, as Turkey was removed from the list of Annex II of the Convention by the resolution of UNFCCC Conference of the Parties. As a developing country itself, Turkey receives various financial resources such as EU funds and multilateral climate funds from multilateral development banks, bilateral development agencies, funds such as Clean Technology Fund and Global Environment Facility (GEF). 112 TURKEY’s 2nd VNR 2019 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS “Strong Ground towards Common Goals”