The Cost of Mobility: Addressing Social Equity in Turkey’s Road Transport Transformation

Executive Summary

This policy brief provides an overview of the differences in expenditure patterns in road transportation among households in Turkey. Such an understanding is essential—especially in challenging economic times—for designing targeted fiscal and income policies that address transportation poverty and equity concerns while pursuing climate goals. Price trends, mobility behavior, vehicle features, and the spending structure of private households are examined to provide an overview of the costs of mobility on Turkey’s roads—from both an individual and societal perspective. Given the country’s diverse socioeconomic landscape, decarbonization policies have varying financial impacts on different population groups. The approach used in this study seeks to inform the development of equitable and effective policies that balance environmental and social priorities. Furthermore, this policy brief forms a basis for assessing the impact of political decarbonization instruments in the passenger road transportation sector on various income groups and thus aims to support political decision-makers in choosing socially balanced decarbonization instruments.

Introduction

Turkey ratified the Paris Agreement in October 2021 and set 2053 as its target year for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.1 Decarbonization efforts to reach this target will require comprehensive strategies and policy measures across critical sectors, including energy production, industry, buildings, waste, agriculture, land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) and transportation as described in the Turkish Climate Change Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan 2024– 2030.2 Among these sectors, the transportation sector is the third most energy-consuming sector after buildings and the industrial sector in Turkey and has the highest reliance on fossil fuels. Over 90 percent of transport sector emissions originate from road transportation. Road transportation in Turkey today emits approximately 80 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, accounting for about 20% of Turkey’s carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

Conclusion

By focusing on affordability, accessibility, and inclusive design, Turkey can ensure that its transport transition is both environmentally effective and socially fair. Political pricing instruments like carbon pricing and fuel taxation are powerful tools for emissions reduction and must be embedded within a broader framework that ensures fairness, inclusion, and public trust. A well-integrated, multimodal transportation system offers the most sustainable alternative to private car use. Policy options such as revenue recycling, social leasing schemes, and emissions-based taxation with targeted compensation provide practical ways to align climate goals with social equity in private car use.