UTES

There are currently discussions and negotiations under the UN for continuing the efforts against the Global warming and framing of a new agreement. It is expected that, the New Agreement will be shaped at United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) which will be in Denmark-Copenhagen at the end of 2009

Turkey is a party to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as of 24 May 2004 in conformity with the Decision (26/CP.7) recognizing its situation as being different from other Annex I countries of the Convention. Turkey became party to UNFCCC 10 years after the convention came in to force in 1994 and ratified Kyoto protocol on 5th of February 2009, 4 years after it came into force (16th of February 2005). Although it is a late ratification for our country, it is a vital step. Turkey is not under any obligation till 2012 but contribution of all of the stakeholders is essential for mitigation of Global warming and for negotiating for the benefit of Turkey to take its best place for the post Kyoto period. The significant role of business sector should be clarified and studies should be started as soon as possible in this manner.

It is expected that a variety of new approaches will be established to reduce the Green House Gas (GHG) emissions with in the context of Kyoto Protocol. Some of those are; editing the regulations related with reducing the GHG rising form industry, transport and heating, increasing the usage of bio-diesel fuel instead of fossil fuels, improving the alternative energy sources especially like solar and wind energy projects, generalizing the usage of Turkey’s important geothermal sources and supporting the green investments by applying environmental technologies.

To convey the above approaches and up to date information in a healthy manner to the Turkish Business World, UTES is planning to organize different seminars and conferences and establish a platform to exchange UK experience.

As highlighted in the Statute of the Society, UTES will work actively to prepare Business sector for the mitigation of Global warming.

Turkey’s National Communication

The Technical Committee for Climate Change operates through 8 thematic working groups in coordination with the Ministries such as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, State Planning Organization and TURKSTAT

8 thematic working groups titled with their scopes

• Researching the Effects of Climate Change
• Inventory of GHG (green house gasses)
• Mitigation of GHG from Industry, Building, Waste
• Management and Service Sector
• Mitigation of GHG from Energy Sector
• Mitigation of GHG from Transportation
• Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry
• Development of Policies and Strategies
• Education and Public Awareness

Main goals

• Strengthening technical and institutional capacities
• Developing strategies, in a cost-effective manner for reducing GHG emissions
• Developing strategies, programs and plans of implementation
• Preparing GHG emissions reduction programs on the basis of planned activities

Priorities

• Minimization of GHG from Energy Sector
  Determination of energy scenarios by integrated system analysis of the multiple options with the assessment of costs and benefits of various energy policy alternatives shall be the main target project.
• Vulnerability and Adaptation
  Assessing national vulnerability and mitigation measures on the basis of regional impacts in socio-economic area (economical growth, technology, population and governance) and searching for appropriate climate change adaptation measures shall be investigated.
• Land use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)
  Assessment of physical and economic impacts of climate change on LULUCF, development and strengthening of existing models
• Capacity Building
  Capacity building in the areas of scientific and technical potential and institutional relations (identification and removal of jurisdictional, organizational and informational obstacles and conducting streamline among the institutions).