Turkey: Challenges and strategies toward de-carbonization and sustainable development under the age of finance

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present the key challenges and structural constraints as well as potential strategies toward de-carbonization and the green transformation in Turkey, and to argue that the current mode of global finance in many ways conspires to constrain Turkey’s quest for a sustainable and green industrial policy. I consider Turkey’s conundrum against the backdrop of its speculation-led growth patterns and ongoing fossil fuel-based production cycle and highlight the tradeoffs and dilemmas of the pursuit for green abatement policies, given the logic of financialization.