Türkiye’s long-term climate strategy emphasizes a multifaceted approach to emission reduction, combining Nature-based Solutions (NBS) with technological and policy interventions. The strategy primarily includes increasing renewable energy capacity and enhancing energy efficiency. NBS complements these efforts by providing cost-effective and sustainable methods for carbon sequestration and ecosystem resilience.

Although urban areas in Türkiye are not large, they have started integrating NBS and green infrastructure to enhance resilience against climate-related disasters. Initiatives such as promoting green roofs, urban forests, and sustainable drainage systems are part of municipalities’ plans to mitigate urban heat islands and manage stormwater effectively.

Afforestation and reforestation projects are highlighted as key strategies for carbon sequestration, demonstrating the country’s recognition of NBS in national policies. However, specific data quantifying the impact of NBS on Türkiye’s overall carbon emissions is limited.

Cities and Urban Areas

In addition to city parks, there are several other examples in urban areas in Türkiye where Nature-based Solutions (NBS) and green infrastructure are being integrated to enhance resilience against climate-related disasters, one being the city of İzmir. The interventions in İzmir focus mainly on creating green corridors and decreasing the city’s temperatures[1].

City of İstanbul is pursuing the Green Istanbul initiative, and biodiversity mapping is being used to target ecological conservation efforts, including monitoring flora and fauna, developing pollination pathways, reducing light pollution, and increasing surface permeability. Istanbul also actively works with the community to raise awareness, encouraging activities such as tree trails or exploratory programs for children, and presenting green awards[2].

Turkish cities are eager to join the Global Covenant of Mayors, which currently includes 94 municipalities[3], and are developing their Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans. In these plans, municipalities aim to incorporate Nature-based Solutions (NBS) as key climate adaptation strategies while preparing the locally required climate action plans mandated by national regulations.

Afforestation and reforestation

Its national policies reflect Türkiye’s commitment to afforestation and reforestation. The Twelfth Development Plan[4] (2024–2028) emphasizes increasing carbon sink areas by improving forests’ adaptability to climate change. The Strategic Plan for Climate Change Adaptation in Forestry outlines nine strategies[5] to strengthen forest ecosystems’ resilience. These strategies include selecting climate-resilient tree species and implementing sustainable forest management practices in line with NBS principles.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry set a goal to increase forest cover to 30% by 2023, which has been met. This milestone was part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to enhance forest ecosystems and their role in carbon sequestration. The Ministry continues implementing various programs for forest conservation, sustainable management, and expansion to enhance Türkiye’s climate resilience and environmental sustainability.

Türkiye’s participation in the Bonn Challenge—a global effort to restore 350 million hectares of deforested and degraded land by 2030—underscores the country’s commitment to international reforestation and land restoration goals[6].

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also play a crucial role in supporting Türkiye’s afforestation and reforestation efforts. The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion (TEMA), established in 1992, is a leading organization in this field. With over 451,000 volunteers, TEMA focuses on reforestation and protecting natural habitats.

The World Bank has supported Türkiye’s forestation and climate resilience initiatives through several key projects[7]. In June 2023, the World Bank approved financing for the Türkiye Climate Resilient Forests Project. This initiative aims to enhance the country’s capacity to protect people and forests from wildfires, which have become increasingly frequent due to climate change. The project focuses on strengthening wildfire management and improving the resilience of forests and communities across 14 high-risk provinces, home to approximately 20 million residents.

The Türkiye Earthquake, Floods, and Wildfires Emergency Reconstruction Project (TEFWER) supports green and resilient reconstruction efforts in municipalities affected by natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. By incorporating forestation efforts into the reconstruction process, the project aims to restore and enhance forest ecosystems, contributing to climate resilience and environmental sustainability.

The World Bank’s Climate and Disaster Resilient Cities Project in Türkiye focuses on enhancing urban areas’ resilience to climate-related disasters. This project includes components promoting urban green infrastructure, which mitigates the impacts of floods and heat waves, improves air quality, and provides recreational spaces while contributing to urban forestation efforts.

Comparison

In 2021, Türkiye’s forests offset approximately 34 million tonnes of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions[8]. However, challenges such as forest degradation and climate-induced threats, including rising temperatures and reduced precipitation, undermine the effectiveness of these carbon sinks. Ongoing reforestation and afforestation projects remain essential to maintaining and enhancing the carbon sequestration potential of Türkiye’s forests.

All sectors in Türkiye have seen a GHG emission from 1990 to 2022, including energy (180%), industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) (208%), waste (58%), and agriculture (38%). The main reasons for the rise in removals of LULUCF are improvements in sustainable forest management, afforestation, rehabilitation of degraded forests, reforestations on forest land and conversion of coppices to productive forests in forest land remaining forest land, efficient forest fire management and protection activities, conversions to perennial croplands from annual croplands and grasslands, and conversions to grasslands from annual croplands[9].

Currently, national data do not provide specific information on the level of NBS use on a country’s emissions, except for afforestation/reforestation actions.

Conclusion

Türkiye’s integration of NBS into its climate policies reflects a strong commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience. Although comprehensive data on the impact of NBS on national emissions is still being developed, these solutions play a vital role alongside technological advancements in helping Türkiye meet its climate goals. Implementing NBS, particularly in urban areas, requires significant financial investment and mobilizing domestic and international funding.

This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Turkiye Country Manager Ipek Tasgin.

[1] https://www.urbangreenup.eu/cities/front-runners/izmir/izmir-turkey-re-naturing-urban-plan-with-NBS.kl?utm_source=chatgpt.com

[2] https://www.thegpsc.org/sites/gpsc/files/urban_nature_program_expert_meeting_28-29_may_2024_istanbul.pdf

[3] https://www.globalcovenantofmayors.org/our-cities/

[4] https://www.sbb.gov.tr/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Twelfth-Development-Plan_2024-2028.pdf

[5] https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en/news-archive/strategic-plan-for-climate-change-adaptation-of-forestry-in-turkey-9-adaptation-strategies-proposed

[6] https://www.bonnchallenge.org/progress

[7] https://naturebasedsolutions.org/taxonomy/term/878

[8] https://enerji.gov.tr/Media/Dizin/EVCED/tr/%C3%87evreVe%C4%B0klim/%C4%B0klimDe%C4%9Fi%C5%9Fikli%C4%9Fi/UlusalSeraGaz%C4%B1EmisyonEnvanteri/Belgeler/Ek-1.pdf

[9] https://enerji.gov.tr/Media/Dizin/EVCED/tr/%C3%87evreVe%C4%B0klim/%C4%B0klimDe%C4%9Fi%C5%9Fikli%C4%9Fi/UlusalSeraGaz%C4%B1EmisyonEnvanteri/Belgeler/Ek-1.pdf