In line with Turkey's 2053 Net Zero Emission target, the first Climate Law proposal came to the Turkish Grand National Assembly in February and was adopted by the Turkish Parliament’s Environment Commission on 04 March 2025.
The Law envisages radical changes in many areas from economy to industry, from transport to urban planning in line with the 2053 Net Zero Emission target. These regulations, which will be carried out under the coordination of the Climate Change Directorate, include important steps such as reducing carbon emissions, supporting sustainable development and encouraging green finance.
The most important changes introduced by the Climate Law, which aims to put Turkey's climate policies into a legal framework, are undoubtedly the establishment of the Turkish Green Taxonomy and Emission Trading System.
Green Taxonomy
Under the Law, Turkey's Green Taxonomy will be established to determine which economic activities are environmentally sustainable. This system, which will be harmonised with the European Union's (EU) Green Deal, aims to encourage companies and financial institutions to make sustainable investments.
With the Green Taxonomy, an activity will be analysed in terms of carbon emissions, energy efficiency and natural resource use before it is considered sustainable, incentives for sustainable projects will be increased and carbon-intensive sectors will be directed to low-emission alternatives.
Emission Trading System and Carbon Pricing
The law envisages the establishment of an Emissions Trading System (ETS) for the purpose of reducing carbon emissions. The main objective of this system is to incentivise companies to produce greener solutions by imposing a cost on carbon emissions. Additionally, a Border Carbon Regulation Mechanism can be established to address the embedded greenhouse gas emissions of imported goods in the Turkish Customs Territory.
With the ETS, it is aimed to make green investments more profitable by introducing an economic price for carbon emissions and to gain speed in achieving the net zero emission target by reducing carbon emissions in industry, energy and transport.
Within the scope of the Climate Law, national and local action plans will be established with a net zero emission target, provincial commissions on climate change will be established, province-based plans will be made for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change, the use of clean technology will be made widespread, and efforts will be made to raise social awareness on the issue. In this context, curricula and teaching programmes at all levels of education will be updated within the scope of climate change and green transformation, and necessary work will be carried out for the training of green labour force. Additionally, strategies will be developed at national level for disaster preparedness and disaster management for disasters such as drought, thirst and food security caused by climate change.
Turkey's first Climate Law offers a comprehensive roadmap that brings together economic and environmental sustainability. With innovations such as Green Taxonomy, Emission Trading System, low-carbon cities and industrial transformation, Turkey will become more integrated into global climate policies.