TURKEY’S CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES IN THE CONTEXT OF GOVERNANCE

Abstract

Climate change is a global issue that has proven individual state-centred responses inadequate and it necessitates sustainable collective actions. It requires cooperation and coordination at global, national and local levels to tackle with its adverse effects. This study argues that climate change’s cross-cutting nature and its effects compel states to adapt a new governance approach as the most effective tool. Turkey as a part of the Mediterranean Basin is de􀏐ined as one of the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Its position on global climate change governance is intertwined with its priorities for economic development which makes it a “unique” party to the current global climate change regime because of its “special circumstances”. This study analyses the case of Turkey by identifying the reasons behind Turkey’s attitude and position in its integration into the global climate change regime as well as its national responses to issues arising from climate change. It aims to evaluate: the determinants of Turkey’s approach to climate change governance and Turkey’s formulation of its national climate change policies. Also, it interrogates the ef􀏐iciency of Turkey’s steps taken towards climate change mitigation. In order to analyse Turkey’s existing national structure regarding climate change governance, of􀏐icial documents such as strategy papers and action plans composed by Turkey and framework documents generated by international organisations, mainly the UN, are used as primary sources as well as the prominent publications as secondary resources. This study concludes that Turkey’s climate change policies and governance structure are still at an early stage. There is a need for a shift in its policy patterns towards climate change governance in the post-Paris Agreement context. Keywords: Turkey, Climate Change, Governance, National Policies.