GREEN TRANSFORMATION IN TÜRKİYE

Summary: Significant steps are being taken both globally and in our country to combat climate change and preserve natural resources through the implementation of green transformation. In recent years, decisions and projects in our country have supported the transition to green transformation, aiming for the manufacturing industry to achieve green transformation and for our country to reach its 2053 carbon-neutral goal.

GREEN TRANSFORMATION IN TÜRKİYE

Green transformation refers to the restructuring of economic and social systems that aim to reduce environmental damage, with goals such as preserving natural resources, increasing energy efficiency, and reducing the carbon footprint.

As part of combating climate change and achieving green transformation, our country first signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2004 and subsequently signed the Paris Agreement, which came into force in 2021. Alongside the Paris Agreement, our country's 2053 carbon-neutral goal was also announced. Efforts within the scope of green transformation gained momentum with the European Green Deal (EGD) announced by the European Union in 2019, and the Green Deal Action Plan was declared within this context, setting specific targets. The action plan includes actions to achieve targets set under the headings of border carbon regulations, a green and circular economy, green finance, clean economic and secure energy supply, sustainable agriculture, sustainable smart transport, climate change diplomacy, and awareness-raising activities for the European Green Deal.

On 20.04.2023, the decision to amend the Decree on State Aids for Investments, published in the Official Gazette, added the Green Transformation Support Program to the first paragraph of Article 2 of the Decree on State Aids for Investments. The Green Transformation Support Program aims to support investments focused on resource-efficient and low-carbon production, which are aligned with the circular economy approach and contribute to climate and sustainability goals. The program will be managed by the General Directorate of Strategic Research and Productivity under the procedures and principles determined by the Ministry. Within this context, the Ministry aims to support investments aligned with the circular economy approach, protect natural resources, and contribute to climate and sustainability goals by focusing on resource efficiency and low-carbon production.

Most recently, the Green Transformation Support Program Implementation Procedures and Principles Notification was published in the Official Gazette on 26.07.2024, aiming to determine the procedures and principles of the Green Transformation Support Program, which will be conducted to support investments focused on resource-efficient and low-carbon production, aligned with the circular economy approach in Türkiye, contributing to climate and sustainability goals. Capital companies (SMEs and large enterprises) operating in the manufacturing industry in Türkiye can apply for support under the green transformation implementation to transition their production facilities to green transformation. When applying, companies are required to prepare a road map report announced by the Ministry, outlining their project goals. The submitted applications are reviewed by evaluators, and support decisions are made for suitable applications. The scope of support includes expenses for land purchases, building construction, machinery and equipment procurement, technology, software and hardware acquisition, measurement, verification, certification, survey, test, and consultancy services, limited to the production facility and auxiliary units operating in the manufacturing industry, to achieve the project goals (Green Transformation Support Program Implementation Procedures and Principles Notification, Article 10). The Green Transformation Support Program is expected to contribute to the realization of green transformation in the manufacturing industry by prioritizing practices aimed at increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste, and preventing greenhouse gas emissions, thereby contributing to our country's 2053 carbon-neutral goal.

Supporting green transformation is crucial for ensuring environmental, economic, and social benefits and achieving a sustainable future. In our country, many steps are being taken and various support programs are being prepared to transition to green transformation, protect natural resources, produce with efficient resources and low carbon, build sustainable agriculture, and combat climate change. By participating in these programs, we have to facilitate the transition to green transformation in our environment and secure a sustainable future.

                                                                                   Fadime TOPÇU EKİNCİ, Lawyer, Mutlu Law, and Consulting Office

 

Bibliography 

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