Press release

Historic Turkish climate law is a “far from ideal, but still significant” step

3 July 2025

In a landmark move from Parliament yesterday, Turkey has adopted its first-ever climate law.

Lawyers for ClientEarth welcome the law as an important step in providing a legal basis for climate action in domestic law. The new law includes references to climate justice and  just transition – as well as protections for ecosystems that help abate the worst of the climate crisis.  

However – even with these elements – the law still falls well short of what is needed to deliver credible climate action.  

According to the environmental legal charity, the law lacks ambitious, science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the medium-term and offers no commitment to phasing out fossil fuels. It also fails to guarantee meaningful, timely, and informed participation of civil society in climate-related decision-making.

While the law creates new bodies to address climate change – it represents a missed opportunity to address fundamental gaps in Turkey’s climate governance—particularly the absence of an independent expert advisory body, which is critical for ensuring scientific input, transparency, and democratic oversight. [1]

 

ClientEarth lawyer Gizem Koc said:

“This law is far from ideal but still significant. It introduces the first legally binding framework to implement the Paris Agreement in Turkey. It obligates public authorities to act on mitigation, adaptation, and just transition in line with the 2053 net zero target.

“Importantly, this legal framework could empower courts to engage more seriously with climate cases and pave the way for future climate litigation -something we’ve seen in other countries with similar legal structures.

“The true impact of this law will depend on its implementation. Much remains to be done to ensure decarbonisation, fair and equitable climate action and adaptation to climate change.”  

In passing the law, Turkey established its own Emissions Trading System (ETS) that is supposed to come into effect next year – however, civil society questions whether this system can deliver its emission reductions aims in the absence of an economy-wide ambitious target. Another area of concern is the redistribution of ETS revenues, as despite minor improvements – only a small portion of them have been allocated to just transition efforts.

On what the government must do next, Gizem Koc added:

“As a next step, authorities must now address key areas such as local climate planning, the functioning of the Emissions Trading System, sector-specific targets, and state aid. Existing legal frameworks—including those related to water management, protected areas, energy, agriculture, urban planning, and environmental impact assessment—must now all fall into line with this climate law, international human rights standards and the requirements of the Paris Agreement.

“We also urge the government to reconsider its new bill that would fast-track mining projects in olive groves, forests and pastures. If passed, this legislation would seriously undermine the potential gains from Turkey’s climate law at the very moment countries around the world need to up their climate ambition.” [2]

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• What Does the Law Offer?

  •  [1] Carbon Markets Board: The law  creates new bodies such as the Carbon Markets Board and broadens the mandate of those others, such as the Climate Change and Adaptation Coordination Committee, which will play a crucial role in shaping ETS policies. ClientEarth, alongside civil society partners in Turkey, will continue to demand a formal seat on these entities’ advisory councils so that climate policy is not shaped behind closed doors.
  • New Concepts in Legislation: The law incorporates key climate justice terms—such as just transition, climate justice, and nationally determined contribution—into Turkish legislation for the first time. These terms are expected to guide both policymakers and judges in shaping and interpreting climate action.
  • Paris Agreement Commitments: National strategies, action plans, and the NDC prepared by ministries now have binding legal status. Public authorities are formally required to act in line with these documents, eliminating the long-standing excuse that such commitments were merely aspirational.
  • Recognition of Climate-Nature Link: The law introduces obligations to expand protected areas as part of mitigation and adaptation efforts and, notably, it acknowledges—for the first time in Turkish law—the intrinsic link between climate change and biodiversity.
  • Incentive Mechanisms: Authorities are now tasked with creating incentives to drive climate action across sectors.
  • Emissions Trading System (ETS): A cap-and-trade system has been introduced, mandating participation for certain businesses and placing a ceiling on emissions in covered sectors.

  [2] Parliament is now preparing to adopt the omnibus bill No. 2/3159 which significantly endangers the  potential gains associated with the adoption of the climate law. The bill is promoted as accelerating the permitting for renewables deployment and cites the permit acceleration discourses of the EU but about 80% of the provisions are geared towards facilitating lignite and critical mining, particularly in olive grooves, forests and pastures. Notably, it circumvents the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes and facilitates “urgent expropriations” for the benefit of mining projects.

About ClientEarth

ClientEarth is a non-profit organisation that uses the law to create systemic change that protects the Earth for – and with – its inhabitants. We are tackling climate change, protecting nature and stopping pollution, with partners and citizens around the globe. We hold industry and governments to account and defend everyone’s right to a healthy world. ClientEarth teams in Europe, Asia and the USA work to shape, implement and enforce the law, to build a future for our planet in which people and nature can thrive together.