Reinvigorating Turkey's Energy Leadership – Turkey as a Sustainable Energy Leader Among Emerging Economies

Executive Summary

The global fight against climate change and efforts to ensure energy security require the sustainable transformation of the world’s energy systems. Turkey has significant potential to become a leader in this pursuit. The country possesses substantial opportunities for energy efficiency as well as considerable renewable energy resources. Moreover, investment decisions being made today in Turkey’s rapidly growing economy will shape the future direction of its energy systems. This situation provides a unique opportunity to develop a sustainable and future-ready energy profile.

To become a sustainable energy leader among emerging economies, Turkey must implement a progressive and coherent sustainable energy policy. Although a strong energy policy framework exists, sustainable energy targets remain insufficient, government support is limited, and bureaucratic barriers to energy investments continue to discourage potential investors.

Most importantly, many high-level policymakers do not appear prepared to play an effective role in developing a forward-looking and sustainable energy strategy for Turkey. In particular, the country’s “dash for coal” approach threatens to undermine Turkey’s potential to become an energy leader and may create significant challenges in upcoming climate negotiations.

The policy brief concludes by presenting policy recommendations aimed at overcoming these limitations and supporting Turkey’s transformation into a sustainable energy leader.