Turkey is drawing attention to its renewable energy achievements as it prepares to host the upcoming United Nations climate summit. Vast solar panel arrays in the central province of Konya are transforming sunlight into electricity, underscoring the nation's efforts to boost its clean energy sector. However, environmental advocates argue that these advancements are overshadowed by Turkey's ongoing dependence on coal and other fossil fuels, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
The Kalyon Karapınar YEKA-1 Solar Power Plant in Konya, operational since 2023, features over 3 million solar panels and generates enough electricity annually to meet approximately 0.7% of the country's power demand, according to plant director Burak Dogru. He stated that the plant prevents about 1.75 million metric tons of carbon emissions each year, highlighting Turkey's move towards cleaner energy sources. Last year, coal accounted for 33% of Turkey's electricity generation, while solar and wind combined represented nearly 23%.
Despite these strides, critics like Duygu Kutluay of the Beyond Fossil Fuels advocacy group point out that Turkey's current energy plans lack concrete roadmaps for phasing out coal, gas, and oil. This, she contends, is inconsistent with the country's pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2053. Turkey is also pursuing nuclear power, with its first plant under construction and plans for additional reactors being considered.
The upcoming U.N. climate summit, COP31, scheduled for November 9-20 in Antalya, will convene global leaders and stakeholders to discuss climate action. The summit occurs amid growing concerns over energy security, exacerbated by regional conflicts that have driven up fossil fuel prices.
While Turkey's Environment and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum aims for COP31 to focus on implementing existing climate commitments, the country's climate targets have been described as "critically insufficient" by Climate Action Tracker. The agreement set a goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Further complicating the environmental narrative, Turkey faces accusations from human rights groups of disregarding environmental concerns and suppressing activists. Although a court annulled an environmental impact assessment for a planned coal-fired power plant expansion earlier this year, a different coal plant expansion is reportedly being planned. Like other Mediterranean nations, Turkey is increasingly vulnerable to heat waves, droughts, water scarcity, wildfires, and floods.