The Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) has issued the following statement with regard to the passage of an agreement to sign the Kyoto Protocol in the Turkish Grand National Assembly:
“On February 5, 2009 the Turkish Grand National Assembly approved a law to join the Kyoto Protocol. A new international climate change agreement will take shape in December 2009 at the 15thMembers Meeting in Copenhagen, which will cover the span of time following 2012. Being a party to the Kyoto Protocol is an important step for Turkey’s effective participation in discussions about climate change and for enabling Turkey to better negotiate its own special conditions. Being party to the Kyoto Protocol will strengthen Turkey’s hand with regard to negotiations to combat climate change following 2012.
Technically, Turkey’s participation in the Kyoto Protocol, which obliges the parties to the protocol to reduce their greenhouse emissions between 2008 and 2012, does not require any responsibilities within this time frame. Yet, Turkey should work together with all other partners in order to form a strong negotiation position based on reliable information in the post 2012 climate change negotiations.
It is inevitable for Turkey, which intends to become an EU member by 2014, to participate in the Kyoto Protocol, an EU initiative. In order to overcome the pressures of the current economic crisis, it is vital to adopt new sustainable industrial production models. Therefore, innovation and clean technologies bear great importance for the reduction of greenhouse emissions.
TUSIAD, which is the first accredited Business and Industry Civil Society Organization to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, has been taking initiatives to fulfill its responsibilities in the area of environment, climate change and sustainable development.”