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Environment & Sustainability Guide · Turkey

Environment & Sustainability Guide in Turkey

Air quality, green spaces, and environmental policies

Turkey, with a population of 84 million, has nearly 30% forest coverage that has increased from 27% in 1999 to 29.5% in 2023, producing 42 million tons of oxygen annually. Air quality remains stable but urban PM levels exceed WHO guidelines. Water scarcity affects many regions while earthquakes pose high risks. Turkey ratified the Paris Agreement in 2021 targeting net-zero by 2053.

Air Quality Index

0510

Moderate

5.5/10(AQI: N/A)

Stable trend

Turkey's air quality shows stable trends per database, with urban areas like Istanbul and Ankara exceeding WHO PM2.5 guidelines. Industrial emissions and traffic contribute significantly. The 2019 Air Quality Regulation reduced SO2 by 40% since 2015.

Water Quality

0510

Moderate

5.8/10

78% of urban population has safely managed drinking water access, but agricultural and industrial pollution affects groundwater. Major rivers show elevated nitrates. Urban treatment meets EU standards.

Urban tap water generally safe; bottled water preferred.

Recycling System

Recycling rate around 15%, with Zero Waste Project (2018) targeting 35% by 2023, achieving ~20%. Covers plastics, paper, glass, metals in cities.

Recycling Rate: 15.0%

plasticpaperglassmetal

Green Spaces

Forest coverage 29.5% (2023), up from 26.7% (1999), totaling 22.9M ha. 116 national parks cover 1.3% land. Turkey ranks 4th globally in annual forest expansion (118,000 ha/year).

Forest Coverage: 29.5%

National Parks: 116

Protected areas ~9%; challenges from wildfires destroying 255,000 ha last decade.

Environmental Policies

10th National Environmental Plan targets 30% renewables by 2030. Paris Agreement ratified 2021; net-zero 2053. Forest Law protects state-owned forests.

Key Policies:

•National Climate Strategy 2022
•Zero Waste Project
•Air Quality Plans

Renewable Energy: 23% renewables achieved; 30% by 2030.

Natural Disaster Risk

HIGH

High risk from earthquakes, floods, droughts, wildfires. 2023 Kahramanmaraş quakes: 53,000 deaths.

earthquakesfloodsdroughtswildfires

Climate Change Impacts: Temperature rise 1.2°C (1990-2020); heatwaves x3 since 1980s; droughts 40% land 2021; floods +20% frequency; sea level 3-5mm/yr coasts.

Sustainability Initiatives

Renewable Energy

YEKA auctions added 5GW solar/wind; hydropower 25% electricity. Target 50GW renewables by 2035.

Waste Management

Zero Waste Project recycled 15M tons; plastic bags down 80%.

Reforestation

2.5B trees planted 2008-2023; +118,000 ha/year, top 4 globally.

Wildlife & Nature

Anatolian leopardCritically Endangered

Caucasian lynxEndangered

Eastern imperial eagleVulnerable

Eurasian brown bearVulnerable

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