Climate Change
The Climate Change program has been one of IPC’s main research priorities since 2013. IPC’s Climate Change Program publishes policy papers and reports on the energy transition, green economy, mitigation and adaptation policies, and the economic impacts of climate change. The Climate Change program works in the following thematic areas.
The Climate Change programme works in the following thematic areas.
Mitigation | Climate Diplomacy | Adaptation and Resilience | Knowledge and Communication
IPC’s Climate Change Program acts as a key platform to bring together stakeholders involved in climate action by providing opportunities for collaboration and dialogue with experts, academics, the public, civil society, and the private sector to increase the impact of actions on climate change. IPC represents Turkey in the Climate Transparency Network and the Mediterranean Alliance of Think Tanks on Climate Change (MATTCCh).
The Climate Change Program’s main research focus is to promote low-carbon SHURA ENERGY TRANSITION CENTER development, lead industrial decarbonization efforts—particularly in the steel sector—and contribute to the energy transition agenda by advocating for the gradual phase-out of coal. It also promotes a just transition to ensure that no one is left behind in the transition to a sustainable future. Through strategic partnerships with institutions such as Istanbul University – Cerrahpaşa, Boğaziçi University, and the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ), IPC has made significant contributions to understanding the health impacts of climate change.
#ClimatePolicies | #ClimateChange | #GreenTransition | #JustTransition | #ClimateAction
Networks
- Climate Transparency
- MATTCCh
Partnerships
- International Climate Politics Hub
- Climate Policy Lab
Gelecek Etkinlikler
Paris-Antalya Podcast 7: COP31 and Climate Testimony
The seventh and final episode of “Paris-Antalya Podcast” a series bringing together different perspectives on the road to COP31, was released on 7 October. Titled “COP31 and Climate Testimony,” the episode features Deniz Gündoğan İbrişim as the speaker and Ümit Şahin as the moderator.
COP31 Dialogues 3: What Does Civil Society Expect? From Coal Phase-Out to the Action Agenda
Organised by Istanbul Policy Center on 5 October 2026 under the theme “What Does Civil Society Expect?”, the third meeting of the COP31 Dialogues series examined Türkiye’s climate policy priorities, focusing on coal phase-out and electrification, carbon pricing and trade, food security, and climate and health. The civil society forum following the panel explored coal phase-out, climate negotiations, and civil society’s priorities ahead of COP31.
Paris Antalya Podcast 6: COP31 and the Right to Food
The sixth episode of the "Paris Antalya" podcast series, which brings together different perspectives in the run-up to COP31, was released on September 23. The episode, titled "COP31 and the Right to Food (COP31 ve Gıda Hakkı)," featured Berkan Özyer as the speaker and Ümit Şahin as the moderator.
COP31 Panel 2: EU-India Partnership and the Road to COP31: Bridging Trade and Climate Diplomacy
Held at Istanbul Policy Center on 15 September 2026, the event explored EU-India relations and climate diplomacy on the road to COP31. Following opening remarks by Mijito Vinito and Senem Aydın-Düzgit, the first panel, moderated by Senem Aydın-Düzgit, featured Mustafa Kutlay and Ummu Salma Bava, who examined India-EU relations in the context of the comprehensive strategic agenda and the free trade agreement. In the second panel, moderated by Ümit Şahin, Vibha Dhawan and Hasan Aksoy discussed India’s climate diplomacy and the shift from ambition to implementation ahead of COP31.
COP31 Explained 4: Adaptation in Antalya: From Global Goals to Finance and Implementation
At the fourth event of the “COP31 Explained” series, held on September 10 as part of preparations for COP31, Ümit Şahin, Climate Change Program Coordinator at Sabancı University–Istanbul Policy Center (IPC), hosted Akgün İlhan from IPC and Emilie Beauchamp from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
Paris-Antalya Podcast 5: COP31 ve Gender
The fifth episode of the "Paris Antalya" podcast series which brings together different perspectives in the run-up to COP31, was released on September 9. The episode titled "COP31 and Gender (COP31 ve Toplumsal Cinsiyet)", featured Özlem Aslan the speaker and Ümit Şahin as the moderator.
Long-Term Decarbonisation Trajectories for the Turkish Economy
Supported by the European Climate Foundation and carried out between 1 March 2020 and 30 September 2022, the project aimed to identify long-term decarbonisation trajectories for the Turkish economy and mainstream them into policymaking. It focused particularly on phasing out coal and other fossil fuels in the electricity sector.
The Decarbonization Pathways for Turkey (2 phases)
The Decarbonisation Pathways for Turkey project was carried out in two phases in partnership with the European Climate Foundation. The first phase ran from 1 March 2020 to 30 September 2022, and the second from 15 September 2022 to 14 July 2024. The project aimed to support the long-term decarbonisation of the Turkish economy, particularly the energy sector. Drawing on a global carbon budget consistent with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5–2°C temperature goals, it examined Turkey’s contribution to global emission reduction efforts in line with the principle of equity.
The Right to the Future Program
The Right to the Future Programme was established in 2019 by Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute at Lund University to promote a rights-based approach to climate action and strengthen the role of human rights and the rights of nature in climate policy.
COBENEFITS: Mobilizing the Social and Economic Co-benefits of Climate Action and Renewable Energy
The COBENEFITS project, implemented between March 2017 and September 2022, was funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) under the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The project aimed to identify the social and economic co-benefits of climate action and the transition to renewable energy, and to support their integration into public policy.
Green Climate, Green Economy
The Green Climate, Green Economy Project was implemented in 2016–2017 under the Civil Society Dialogue Programme, co-funded by the Republic of Türkiye and the European Union. With the Green European Foundation (GEF), Green Thought Association and Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center as project partners, it aimed to promote knowledge exchange and lasting dialogue among civil society organizations, academics, and local governments in Türkiye and Europe.