In the rural heartlands in small homes built of stone and timber, live millions of low-income households — often elderly couples or families of farmers who still rely on firewood and coal to stay warm through the long, freezing winters.
When we talk about climate action in Türkiye, the spotlight often falls on urban commuters, industrial giants, or renewable energy investors. But the real test of our climate strategy lies far from the industrial zones, not in İstanbul’s skyline or Ankara’s ministries, but in the quiet, snow-covered villages of Eastern Anatolia, the Black Sea highlands, and the rural heartlands where time seems to move more slowly. There, in small homes built of stone and timber, live millions of low-income households — often elderly couples or families of farmers who still rely on firewood and coal to stay warm through the long, freezing winters. These are Türkiye’s hardest-to-reach climate target group.
While their total emissions may seem modest compared to factories or transport fleets, their combined carbon footprint is significant. Rural heating, mostly from solid fuels, remains one of the largest sources of household greenhouse gas emissions in Türkiye.
Why They’re Left Behind
The challenge is not unwillingness, but access. Clean energy alternatives, such as heat pumps or improved insulation, remain financially out of reach for most rural households. These communities are far from distribution networks, have limited purchasing power, and are largely excluded from online or bank-based subsidy schemes. A modern heat pump costs more than a year’s income; even if subsidies exist, they often require digital applications or urban installers who never make it to the village. For an elderly farmer in Hakkari or a widow in a Black Sea village, applying online or arranging a loan can be impossible.
Cultural habits also play a role. Firewood and coal are seen as dependable and familiar as they are available locally, sometimes even on credit; while newer technologies are viewed as expensive and uncertain. The result is a group left on the sidelines of the national climate effort; not by choice, but by circumstance.
Two Practical Solutions
If Türkiye is to meet its climate goals fairly, it must bring the energy transition to these communities rather than expecting them to come to it. Both models below are affordable, visible, and scalable, and both directly cut emissions while improving indoor air quality and health.
- A Rural Clean-Heat Voucher Program
The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change could launch a targeted voucher scheme for low-income rural households. The program would cover most of the cost of installing efficient heat pumps and carrying out basic home insulation.
Mobile installation teams, locally trained, could visit villages to carry out installations, provide aftercare and collect data for monitoring. Partnerships with Bank of Provinces (İlbank), municipalities, and development partners like the EBRD or UNDP could ensure funding and accountability.
- Community “Heat and Solar” Hubs
In clustered rural settlements, municipalities can help establish small community-operated energy hubs that combine solar panels, shared heat pumps, or clean biomass boilers. Managed by local cooperatives, these systems would replace dozens of old stoves at once and show how clean energy can work even in remote areas.
A Just Transition Begins in the Villages
Reaching the hardest-to-reach climate group is not just a technical issue; it’s a question of fairness. Türkiye’s rural citizens deserve the same access to comfort, health, and modern energy as those in big cities. The path to a low-carbon future will be credible only when every home, from İstanbul’s high-rises to Erzurum’s mountain villages, can join the transition.
Decision Maker for Implementation and Coordination:
Mr. Murat Kurum
Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change
+90 (312) 410 10 00
cevrevesehircilikbakanligi@hs01.kep.tr
This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Turkiye Country Manager, İpek Taşgın.