Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum stated that a new page has been opened in environmentally friendly production with the “Green Transformation in Industry” regulation and said, “We are issuing a Green Transformation Certificate in Industry to facilities that pay attention to energy and resource efficiency and operate with the principle of zero pollution, and we are actually introducing a green transformation standard to the industry. With this regulation that will concern 6 thousand facilities, we will classify the facilities and make our industrialists who receive Class A Certificates more prestigious in the international market.” Minister Kurum warned the municipalities once again in his speech regarding the mucilage experienced in Marmara: Please be loyal to the Marmara Sea Protection and Action Plan that we have all signed together and keep the promises you have made.
The Green Transformation Protocol Signing Ceremony and Presentation Meeting in Industry was held with the participation of Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır and Chairman of the TBMM Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources Information and Technology Commission Mustafa Varank. Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Kurum said that they were closely following the effects of the climate crisis that threatens the world. Drawing attention to the fact that the most vivid example of the effects of this crisis was experienced in the USA, Minister Kurum noted that the forest fire that was experienced turned into a giant urban fire; the reason for this was the winds blowing at 161 kilometers per hour.
“FIGHTING THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS TURKEY’S FUTURE ISSUE”
Minister Kurum, emphasizing that the climate crisis also affects Turkey, stated that the flood disasters in the Black Sea, the fires in Antalya, Muğla and İzmir, and the mucilage in the Marmara Sea are among the most distressing effects of the crisis, and said, “These disasters have shown us once again that combating and adapting to the climate crisis is a matter of Turkey’s future.”
“WE INSPIRE THE WORLD WITH THE ZERO WASTE MOVEMENT”
Minister Kurum, who drew attention to the fact that Turkey has an economic model that is sensitive to the environment and respects nature, said, “We continue our initiatives without compromising on production, employment and exports; on the other hand, we never neglect to protect our nature and environment. We inspire the world with the Zero Waste Movement that we carry out under the auspices of the Honorable Emine Erdoğan.”
“CARBON FOOTPRINT WILL BE MORE IMPORTANT IN EXPORTS TO EUROPE”
Minister Kurum stated that 2024 percent of the 72 emission rates are from the energy sector and 13 percent from the industry sector, and said, “The European Green Deal does not come only as a climate policy; it also brings with it a huge economic transformation process. We make almost 50 percent of our exports to European Union countries, and at this point, European countries are in the first place in our total exports. From now on, the carbon footprint of the products we export to Europe, in other words, their level of environmental compatibility, will be much more important. Every step we take at this point is strategic, while we are fighting climate change, we are also taking steps that concern the 50 years and 100 years of our country.”
INDUSTRIALISTS WHO RECEIVE A CLASS CERTIFICATE WILL GAIN PRESTIGE IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET
Minister Murat Kurum explained the details of the Industrial Emissions Management Regulation published in the Official Gazette tonight:
We have completed a long-term study that lasted 2 years. With this regulation, we are opening a new page in 'Green Transformation in Industry' and entering a new era. We are issuing 'Green Transformation Certificate in Industry' to facilities that pay attention to energy and resource efficiency and operate with the principle of zero pollution, and in fact, we are bringing a green transformation standard to the industry. With this regulation that will concern 6 thousand facilities, we will classify the facilities and make our industrialists who receive Class A certificates more prestigious in the international market.
“THIS PROTOCOL WILL SHOW THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF OUR INDUSTRIALISTS”
Minister Kurum, who noted that they signed the “Protocol on Data Sharing Based on Environmental Performance” that will accelerate the Green Transformation in Industry, continued as follows: This protocol will show us the environmental performance of our industrialists. Again, it will allow us to make the environmental risk assessment from Air Emission Management (HEY) and BREATH data according to the calculations. The studies will progress like the links of a chain. First, we will accelerate the green transformation of our facilities with the help of calculations. In this way, we will enable our sector to reach the financial support it urgently needs much faster. Then, we will create new business lines, new professions, new specialties. We will open brand new areas for our young people, the bright minds of Turkey, to show themselves. And finally, with our industrialists and innovative young minds, we will raise the Turkish industry, our competitive power, our employment and our production to the highest possible level.
“WE SEE THAT MUNICIPALITIES ARE STILL POLLUTIONING MARMARA”
Minister Kurum also drew attention to the fact that the advanced biological wastewater treatment plants included in the 22-article action plan regarding the mucilage crisis in Marmara have still not been built by the relevant municipalities: Today, we regret to see that most of our municipalities still, let alone building advanced biological wastewater treatment plants, have not even renewed their existing facilities and are still polluting Marmara. This is our open call to our municipalities. Please, from now on, be loyal to the Marmara Sea Protection and Action Plan that we have all signed together, and keep the promises you have made to the nation. I remind all our municipalities bordering Marmara to fulfill their responsibilities, to do the work and procedures they need to do as soon as possible, and I invite them to save our Marmara.
“WE HELP OUR MUNICIPALITIES WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION”
Minister Kurum underlined that all municipalities, regardless of whether they are in power or opposition, are supported in terms of serving the nation:
Believe me, we help our municipalities without any discrimination. Today, there is not a single issue left pending in our Ministry for all municipalities. The responsibility now lies with the municipalities. They should never ever forget this. The period of expecting favor without serving the nation in politics and municipality, expecting support without doing any work, is now over. The period of expecting support from our people without doing any work, without making any positive contribution to our nature, to our children's future, is now completely over, everyone should do whatever they promised.
MINISTER KACIR: IT WILL BE A GUIDE FOR US
Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, noting that they have carried out studies that will provide green transformation in all areas of industry in line with the 2053 Net Zero Emission Target and development priorities, said, “Within the framework of the regulations of our Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the degree of compliance of our manufacturing industry companies with the green taxonomy and the extent to which they apply the best available techniques in this context will be a guide for us in the evaluation phase of our support programs.”
VARANK: OUR PRODUCERS WILL HAVE EASY ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
Speaking at the ceremony, Mustafa Varank, Chairman of the Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources Information and Technology Commission, drew attention to the importance of the signed protocol for industrialists: One of the most important obstacles to green transformation is the difficulties experienced in accessing financing. Thanks to this cooperation protocol, our industrialists and producers will have easier access to international financing, especially with the data to be shared with foreign financial institutions.
Fatih Turan, General Manager of Environmental Management, said that within the scope of the regulation, an Industrial Green Transformation Certificate will be issued for industrial facilities that carry out their production with the cleanest techniques in terms of environment, energy, water, wastewater and resource efficiency, and their environmental performance status will be revealed.
The ceremony was also attended by World Bank Turkey Country Director Humberto Lopez and Credit Registration Office Inc. (KKB) Board Chairman Ege Gültekin. Following the speeches, a protocol was signed between the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and KKB regarding the sharing of data on environmental performance.
