The “Paris Agreement” Also Ratified by Turkey Lays New Responsibilities to Countries

Turkey to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 15-17 Percent by 2030

By signing the Agreement on April 22, 2016 in New York, Turkey declared to the whole world that it would take a firm stance in the fight against climate change following the ratification by its parliament (the Turkish Grand National Assembly) five years later on October 6, 2021. Turkey is now working on a roadmap to improve its commitments as per the Agreement, to set a timetable to stop using coal and coal-based energy, and to realize its energy transition.  Turkey, hereby, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15-17 percent by 2030.

General Aspects of the Paris Agreement

Along with its clear message regarding global warming, the Paris Agreement has the following key aspects.

• The Agreement conveys a clear message to all parties, investors, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and policymakers that the global transition to clean energy is indispensable.
• In addition to the national climate plans submitted by 189 countries representing around 98% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a major global common effort is being formed for the fight against the climate change.
• As of 2023, the parties will start to convene every five years at the “global stock take” summits to assess the progress towards the reduction of emissions, compliance and supports.
• Parties have legal obligations intended to meet their goals regarding the contributions submitted by all parties. Therefore, governments are obliged to keep imposing national measures for emission reduction.
• The Agreement introduces quite strict framework in terms of transparency and accountability, including biannual stocktaking of greenhouse gases and national progresses.
• The Paris Agreement offers a great solidarity package that will facilitate revealing the needs related to the losses and damages caused by the negative effects of climate change.
• With the Paris Agreement, adaptation issue becomes a global goal to include capacity building, resilience against climate change, and vulnerability to climate change.

The Paris Agreement, establishing the framework of the post-2020 climate change regime, aims to strengthen the global socio-economic durability against the threat of climate change. Apart from stipulating to keep the global warming well below 2°C in the long term, the Agreement also intends to reduce the use of fossil fuels and to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. The Agreement places new responsibilities on all humanity and also leads societies by obliging them to fulfill their commitments.