In a statement made after the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that ended in Baku, TEMA Foundation emphasized that global financing targets are insufficient in the fight against the climate crisis. The Foundation drew attention to the fact that time is running out for Turkey and that concrete steps such as quitting coal in national climate policies should be taken.
At the summit, whose main agenda was "climate financing", TEMA Foundation stated that countries responsible for the increasing negative effects of the climate crisis have not fulfilled their historical obligations. It emphasized that the New Collective Quantified Target (NCQG) discussed at COP29 could be a point of support for the countries most affected by the climate crisis, but that the financing, which should be at the level of approximately a trillion dollars per year until 2030, is limited to a target of only 300 billion dollars.
"Demand for climate justice is rising"
Evaluating the summit, TEMA Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Deniz Ataç said, "Countries that see nature as a raw material depot and labor as cheap labor, and that grow their industries and economies with fossil fuels, triggered the climate crisis. Regions that are almost completely unaccountable for this crisis are paying the heaviest price. However, these countries that have become rich through the use of fossil fuels are obliged to cover the damages they have caused.
"Ataç emphasized that the demands for climate justice of poor and fragile regions that face floods, droughts and extreme weather events caused by emissions are increasing day by day, and said, "While major oil and gas companies make $400 billion in profits per year today, the $300 billion target falls far short of this reality."
Where do Turkey's energy and climate policies stand?
Deniz Ataç stated that despite Turkey being the third country to participate in COP29 with the highest number of people, it stands out with its shortcomings in national climate and energy policies. Ataç said that the 2053 Long-Term Climate Strategy (LTS) and the 2024-2028 Energy Strategic Plan announced at the summit do not include concrete targets for exiting coal or abandoning fossil fuels, and said, "The net zero emission target set for 2053 cannot be achieved without a coal exit plan. The 2024-2028 Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources clearly shows that coal and other fossil fuel exploration activities will continue to increase and that electricity production from coal will continue."
Ataç emphasized that the targets for nuclear energy are not sustainable and said, "While the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is planned to reach full capacity by 2028, Turkey is targeted to have a nuclear energy capacity of 7.2 GW by 2035. However, nuclear energy projects are not a sustainable option due to both environmental risks and high costs. Turkey needs to switch to renewable energy as soon as possible and announce its plan to exit coal."
Fossil fuels should be abandoned for the 1.5 degree target
TEMA Foundation Board Chairman Ataç emphasized that limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5°C is becoming increasingly difficult and that this situation may cause ecosystems and societies to reach irreversible thresholds. Stating that according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) data, current policies are taking the world towards 3°C levels and that Climate Action Tracker data predicts an increase of 2.7°C by the end of this century, Ataç said, "Turkey's acceleration of the transition to renewable energy and abandonment of fossil fuels and nuclear projects can enable it to pioneer a clean future. The decisions and deficiencies taken at COP29 have once again revealed how urgent this transformation is."
"We do not have the luxury of delay for climate justice"
Despite the results of COP29 falling short of expectations, Ataç pointed out that the protection of natural assets is indispensable for a livable planet, and said, "As the TEMA Foundation, we constantly emphasize that a sustainable future is not possible without considering the balance between protection and use. We no longer have the luxury of delay. We must take urgent action to protect our soil, water, air and biodiversity. We believe that the cooperation of all segments of society in this process will make significant contributions to the establishment of a life model in harmony with nature. Existing policies should be strengthened without wasting time in the fight against the climate crisis. The right decisions we will make today will determine our future and help us achieve climate justice."
COP29 değerlendirmesinin tamamı için: https://bit.ly/41fbDt2
For the full COP29 assessment: https://bit.ly/41fbDt2
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