Climate policy inseparable from EU perspective

Turkey’s climate-change struggle and low-carbon policies cannot be assessed separately from its European Union membership perspective, the chair of the country’s top business organization has said.

“With the opening of the environment chapter with the EU, Turkey may feel pressure to make a commitment to emissions reduction,” said Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, chairwoman of the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association, or TÜSİAD.

Speaking at a conference held Monday by the Climate Platform, Yalçındağ said the business world, which will act as a “lever” in the struggle against climate change, should play a more active role.

The Climate Platform was founded by TÜSİAD and the Regional Environment Center’s Turkey country office, or REC Turkey.

Noting that the world has to struggle with climate change on one hand while dealing with income loss and unemployment stemming from the financial downturn on the other, Yalçındağ stressed that there are still opportunities to take measures against global warming.

“However, for this to happen, common will and the sincere struggle of all countries are crucial,” she said.

“The entire world is waiting for the decisions to come up at the U.N. Climate Change Conference to take place in Copenhagen next month. A political decision is likely to be made in Copenhagen and is likely to be followed by a legally-binding protocol,” she added. “Yet the hopes regarding Copenhagen are faint as the U.S. and China have not taken concrete steps. Amid this process, all countries should take responsibility and make sincere and concrete steps rather than casual political rhetoric.”

The TÜSİAD chairwoman noted that the European Union aims to achieve a 20 percent reduction in emissions and 20 percent increase in energy efficiency in 2020 compared to 1990, and has declared that it will raise its reduction target to 30 percent “in the event that global will is displayed in Copenhagen.”

“The EU also expects the new members and candidates to designate targets within this scope,” Yalçındağ added, noting that Turkey should fulfill its responsibilities in that regard.

“However, we should abstain from taking on more obligation than our industry and economy can handle,” she said. “Energy savings and energy-efficiency boosting measures should be taken. Our renewable-energy potential should certainly be developed, and the use of environmentally friendly technology should be supported.”

Need for transformation in habits

Scientific studies show that unless effective measures are taken, the world will become 4 to 5 degrees Celsius warmer by 2050 and the world economy will contract by an average of 5 percent annually, Yalçındağ said.

“We are aware that taking measures will annually cost 1 percent of gross domestic product globally, [but will] bring significant economic advantages and opportunities,” the TÜSİAD chairwoman said. “We should take measures to start the shift to a low-carbon economy as soon as possible. A win-win situation may appear by pursuing common and integrated strategies in the economy, social development, climate change and energy security.”

Turkey’s total greenhouse-gas emissions climbed 119 percent between 1990 and 2007, Yalçındağ said, adding that emissions from energy production and waste had the highest shares at 77 percent and 9 percent, respectively.

Expressing the need for radical changes in the energy sector, the TÜSİAD chairwoman called for a transformation in mentality, as well as production and consumption forms and habits.

“This transformation will not be easy, but it can take place with the initiatives of all countries, politicians and, particularly, individuals,” she said.

The annual global cost of reducing emissions is predicted to reach $200 billion. Developing countries should especially form plans and strategies to speed up low-carbon technology and investments, Yalçındağ said.

“Turkey’s public and private sectors should make a cost-benefit analysis by completing the necessary inventory, data and information studies,” she added. “Furthermore, short-, medium- and long-term strategies, along with action plans, should be prepared.”