Sustainability and the Energy Transition in Türkiye

This special issue of Network Industries Quarterly deals with a very important and timely topic: the energy transition and sustainability more generally. Although the urgent need for an energy revolution — based on renewables and energy efficiency measures so as to reduce the emissions that are rapidly warming our planet – has been globally recognised, the energy sector is still dominated by fossil fuels as the main emitters of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Governments have started to define pathways towards mitigating GHGs, but this is a long process and the energy transition cannot follow a one-size-fits-all model. It involves a combination of technologies, policies, regulations, financing and human resources. This issue analyses Türkiye’s energy transition and decarbonisation policies and discusses its implementation as well as its challenges going forward.

Geylan presents a snapshot of current climate mitigation policies in Türkiye in the light of the pressing global climate agenda and geopolitical risks, and provides policy recommendations to accelerate the energy transition in the country.

Varis analyses Türkiye’s NDCs under the Paris Agreement, its current energy transition policy as well as its international investment policy into the energy sector. The article particularly focuses on the legal foreign direct investment framework and the interrelation between Turkish law and the Paris Agreement.

Sanli argues that there is a need for ‘green nudges’ to alleviate the adverse effects of the recent energy crisis and discusses the behavioural dimension of energy policies for Türkiye. He stresses the importance of data and algorithms so as to be able to gain insights into consumer behaviour, which would be useful for improving energy services.

Dalgic and Finger reflect on the main messages in the study entitled ‘Assessment of a Carbon Tax as a Tool to Decarbonise Türkiye’s Energy Supply’ which was conducted by the Istanbul Center for Regulation (IC4R). The study analyses policy options to meet the country’s NDC commitments. With the aim of quantifying the economic costs and impacts of possible climate mitigation policies, the study indicates possible policy options for Turkish policymakers. In particular, it analyses the effects of subsidies for renewable energy and employment resulting from carbon taxes on all polluting energy types.

 

Deniz Ece Dalgic
Manager, Istanbul Center for Regulation

Separate articles can be downloaded from the links below: