Türkiye’s Parliament has adopted its first-ever climate law, introducing a wide-ranging legal framework to combat climate change, establish a national Emissions Trading System (ETS) and reinforce the authority of the Climate Change Directorate in enforcing environmental regulations.
“With this law, the most critical threshold of our 2053 Net Zero Emission and Green Development targets, we will provide a freer research and development environment without being influenced by any country in developing new technologies,” Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum said Thursday after the law passed.
The law will strengthen Türkiye’s trade, industry and production while protecting it from environmental disaster and negative effects of the climate crisis, Kurum assured in a post on X.
Under the new law, companies that fall under the ETS scope will be required to obtain greenhouse gas emission permits within three years of the regulation’s entry into force.
During the transition period, these businesses will be considered to have temporary emission permits. The Directorate of Climate Change (DCC) will also have the authority to extend this period by up to two years if necessary.
The law empowers the DCC to monitor compliance, issue administrative sanctions and coordinate inspections, which may be carried out in cooperation with the Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Ministry. Institutions and businesses must provide inspectors with access and documentation when requested.
Administrative fines and enforcement actions will be governed under the framework of the misdemeanors law.
A significant amendment was made to the environment law, granting the DCC the authority to inspect adherence to its provisions. Previously established fines for violations related to greenhouse gas tracking have been repealed and will now fall under the scope of the new legislation.
The law also introduces a pilot phase for the ETS before its full implementation, which is to be overseen by the Carbon Market Board. During the pilot period, fines for noncompliance will be reduced by 80%.
Failure to register climate projects in the national carbon credit registry by the deadlines set by the DCC will result in administrative fines of TL 120,000 ($3,010).
The Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) will oversee ETS-related activities within the energy market.
New provisions added to the Electricity Market Law authorize fines of up to TL 2 million for individuals and up to TL 20 million for legal entities involved in manipulative market behavior. If financial gain or damage is proven, fines must be at least twice the benefit gained or loss caused.
Climate-related planning and regulatory adjustments required by the law must be completed by Dec. 31, 2027.
This deadline may be extended by up to one year by presidential decree. Similarly, local climate action plans must also be prepared by the end of 2027, with possible extensions granted by the Environment Ministry.
Local climate action change plans necessitate that public institutions and organizations take measures to reduce the effects of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity. They must preserve marine and terrestrial protected areas and balance land degradation in areas affected or likely to be affected by climate change.
Meanwhile, climate change strategy and action plans on a national scale will be prepared periodically under the coordination of the DCC.
Each city is to have its own strategy, action and implementation area, consisting of provincial or regional organizations’ representatives.
The law underscored that it is essential to develop and use climate finance and climate change combat incentive resources, develop insurance instruments, and promote green and sustainable capital market instruments, bank financing and other financing instruments.
The DCC will also be tasked with preparing national, sectoral and thematic reports; developing climate change incentive mechanisms to facilitate the channeling of financial resources to investments to combat climate change; and establishing and implementing the Turkish Green Taxonomy.
The ministry also responded to popular claims and myths about the law, chief among them is the claim that the law seeks to “restrict” freedom with its carbon footprint regulations.
“There is no question of restricting people's freedoms with the carbon footprint regulations. Reducing the carbon footprint is only foreseen for organizations that produce. It has nothing to do with individuals or their constitutional rights, such as property and travel,” the ministry said.
It also refuted the claims that citizens will be charged a carbon tax under the name of the “Emission Trading System.”
The bill does not introduce a carbon tax system; it covers the establishment of an emissions trading system.
“Article 9 also includes regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions originating from industry, not individuals. Therefore, the scope of the Emission Trading System application is only energy-intensive production facilities. It has nothing to do with individuals,” the ministry said.
The claim that agricultural practices will be banned and fruit trees will be seized has no bearing either, the ministry informed, pointing out that there is “no part in the text that implies this.”
“On the contrary, the law aims to protect lands at risk from drought and disasters, agriculture, animal husbandry and natural resources against changing climate conditions and to ensure food and water security,” it said.
It dismissed the claim that animal husbandry will be banned and artificial meat would be popularized, saying the law contains no such clause, stressing that the law aims to protect livestock and natural resources against changing climate conditions to ensure food and water security.
On the myth that the Paris Agreement would “seize agricultural lands,” the ministry said Türkiye signed the agreement in 2021 by prioritizing and taking into account its own special conditions and development goals.
“The Paris Agreement has been in force since 2021. There have been no restrictive practices since then, and there will be no such thing in the future.”
The ministry added that the law would not “completely” eliminate the use of coal and oil, noting it only aims to promote environmentally friendly clean energy.
It also dismissed the allegations that citizens would be penalized according to their carbon footprint, stressing that no article of the law imposes penalties and restrictions on citizens.
“There is no sanction for this. Article 14 regulates administrative sanctions for industrial and production facilities, not individuals. It does not include provisions for judicial penal sanctions,” it said.
