Turkey ratifies the Paris Agreement

On the evening of Wednesday, October 6, the Turkish parliament unanimously approved the Paris climate agreement, according to the parliamentary channel that broadcast the vote live, following its president’s pledge before the United Nations General Assembly last month.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced this decision at the end of September in New York, making his country 191^NS To ratify this agreement which, when adopted in 2016, should make it possible to limit the rise in average temperatures on the planet to 2°C and, if possible, to 1.5°C.

This certification comes three weeks before the United Nations-sponsored Global Climate Conference (COP26), which will open at the end of October in Glasgow (UK).

Turkey signed the Paris Agreement in 2016. It is one of the last major emitters of greenhouse gases to ratify the text. Iran, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Ethiopia are still missing.

Mr. Erdogan has so far justified his abstention by demanding better burden-sharing, in terms of reducing polluting emissions. According to Ankara, the efforts should be distinguished between industrialized countries, a category to which Turkey belongs though.

+ 150% of emissions since 1990

Turkey’s net greenhouse gas emissions have increased by more than 150% since 1990, according to official Turkish figures.

But the climate issue suddenly imposed itself in the country this summer, after a succession of extreme weather events, Including wildfires on the Mediterranean coast and floods in the north that have killed hundreds of people and caused extensive damage.

Turkey also suffers from persistent drought, which is already forcing some producers to abandon their land and others to switch to new crops that require less water.

Conservationists are concerned about Ankara’s desire to increase its production of coal-based energy, with Turkey officially planning to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 21% by 2030.

On the basis of the current obligations of the member states of the Paris Agreement, “The world is on a catastrophic path of + 2.7 degrees Celsius”Recently, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that “If we don’t collectively change course, there is a huge risk that COP26 will fail” in Glasgow. The conference will take place in Scotland from October 31 to November 12.

A study conducted in April showed that three-quarters of Turks are aware of climate change. Among the main consequences mentioned by respondents: increase in extreme weather events, air pollution and rising food prices, which is a hot topic in a country hit by inflation.