Türkiye’s Climate Politics: “Who Will Make Sacrifices Then?”

The article sheds light on Türkiye’s climate change politics by highlighting the steps taken so far in the fight against climate change and underscores the significant efforts still needed. It shows that Türkiye pursues a multilevel climate policy: international, European, and national. While these different levels of policy sometimes function in harmony, instances of conflict can also be observed. At the international level, Türkiye seeks to position itself as a developing country and avoids assuming greater responsibility for climate action in order to maintain its economic development. At the European level, on the other hand, Türkiye strives to align its legal framework with that of the European Union (EU), frequently adapting its climate strategy plans to comply with EU climate regulations. As a reflection of these policies, it is observed that Türkiye often aims to balance its international and EU-level climate policies at the national level.