Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The adoption of sustainable development, conservation of the environment, encouraging energy efficiency and combating climate change will continue to be primary concerns in the future as they are today.”

The launch event of the Environment and Energy Efficiency Center’s Feasibility Study Project (ÇEVREM) was held at the TOBB Twin Towers, hosted by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu with the attendances of Environment and Urban Affairs Minister Fatma Güldemet Sarı and UK Ambassador Richard Moore.

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the project which will be financed by TOBB and the United Kingdom in order to strengthen the private sector’s energy efficiency, renewable energy and environmental strategies as a part of the plan to establish the Environment and Energy Efficiency Center’s Feasibility Study Project under TOBB will conduct studies in regards to needs analysis and feasibility.

Stating that Turkey is a party to many international agreements on environment, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “As you know, the Paris Agreement was prepared as a result of two weeks of negotiation in Paris which will determine global policy in regards to global climate change after 2020. With this, we have entered a new phase in combatting climate change. For the first time, an agreement which covers all 195 countries is on the table. The Paris Agreement brings binding clauses for all parties. This necessitates that countries change their mid and long term plans accordingly. This may prove problematic for our country. Turkey has been a part of these talks as a first group country. Despite all protests Turkey’s special dispensation has been left out of the Paris document. Hopefully this situation will be resolved in the upcoming conference in Morocco. Otherwise Turkey will be forced to lower its carbon dioxide emissions.

This will result in being counted as a donor country instead of a beneficiary of the Environment Fund, putting us in the same category in regards to obligations as those of developed industrial countries. Our country will, of course, fulfill its obligations in this field but it is our right to be treated fairly.”

- Technological transformation obligation

TÜİK’s 2012 Greenhouse Gasses Inventory Turkey report states that the total greenhouse gas emissions add up to 440 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the per capita carbon footprint in Turkey is below the average of OECD and EU members.

Stating that this should not be an excuse to shirk enacting measures to ensure compliance, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We must undertake technological transform at soon as possible.”

Reporting that the GDP share of the service sector is increasing, Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed the need to engender growth in the industry.

- “We must devise a new industry policy”

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We must devise a new industry policy with regards to new environmental conditions, our dependence on foreign energy and economic conditions. Therefore, preferring greener technology, we can turn this process to our advantage. Additionally the Environmental Chapter of the EU Accession Process has been open since 21^st of January, 2009, and Turkey has made significant progress in this category. Compliance with EU’s legal acquis will require significant infrastructural change and will be difficult.” Stating that the projected cost of this endeavor would reach 60 billion Euros, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that this process would affect many sectors of the industry.

Emphasizing the need for preparedness for this oncoming change, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that a paradigm shift in many policies ranging from environment, economy, energy to technology.

“It is of critical importance that companies keep up with the changing of the economy in order to maintain their competitive power,” said Hisarcıklıoğlu and stated that new sectors and services would surface as the transformation of the economy fully unfolded. “Taken into account together, economic activity and environmental issues the issue of energy becomes very significant in reaching solutions. Energy efficiency is advantageous in terms of both environmental impact and cost reduction; this will ultimately result in increased competitive power.”

- 1000 USD worth of production expends equivalent of 400 liters of petroleum in terms of energy

Reporting that in order to produce domestic product worth 1000$, the equivalent of 400 liters of petroleum is expended in terms of energy, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the OECD average for this is 200 liters.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We believe that a policy which takes economic transformation and the EU accession process into account; which is built on solid foundations with regards to environment, climate change and energy, aiming to strengthen the private sector and increase competitive power as well as employment. To this end, it is vital that we focus on sustainable development.”

- Environment and Urban Affairs Minister Fatma Güldemet Sarı

Environment and Urban Affairs Minister Fatma Güldemet Sarı stated that the roadmap for combatting global warming for the year 2030 has been drawn, “We aim to lower greenhouse gas emissions by up to 21% until 2030. We will achieve this goal by actualizing infrastructure projects, utilizing new and clean technologies as well as making use of renewable energy sources to increase energy efficiency.”

Speaking at the launch event of the Environment and Energy Efficiency Center’s Feasibility Study Project held at the TOBB Twin Towers Environment and Urban Affairs Minister Fatma Güldemet Sarı reported that according to UN reports, 2050 will see the world population at 9 billion with diminished natural resources.

Stating that Turkey will fulfill its duty in combatting climate change and preserving nature, Sarı said, “We’ve drawn the roadmap for combatting global warming for our country for 2030. To this end, it is very important for all of us and the generations to come to enact green growth policies.”

- Ambassador Moore

United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Ankara, Richard Moore stated that environmental issues affect everyone, “There’s something for everyone to do in regards to energy. We are convinced that solutions will not be possible without the support of SMEs and the private sector. Turkey has taken a very positive step forward by signing the Paris Agreement. We will continue to support this.”