Türkiye’s approach in climate adaptation in agriculture
Türkiye’s carbon emissions have increased over the last decade, with economic growth averaging 6.41% from 2010-18. The Turkish economy remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels, especially imported oil and gas. According to the International Energy Agency, most of Türkiye’s total energy supply by source comes from coal, natural gas, and oil, with less dependence on renewables.
Although Turkiye signed the Paris Agreement in 2016, it held back from ratifying it for five years. It finally did so on Oct. 6, 2021, when 353 members of the Turkish parliament voted unanimously in favor, making it the last G20 country to ratify the agreement, just a few weeks before the beginning of the 2021 U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26).
The main reason that Turkiye held off on ratifying the agreement was Ankara’s belief that Turkiye should not be considered a “developed” country under the Paris Agreement rules — with all of the additional obligations that entails — as this would only put more pressure and a greater burden on its already struggling economy. Turkiye has also set a net-zero carbon target by 2053.
SETTING TARGETS
The Paris Agreement provides a unique opportunity to realize a green and just transition and supports the implementation of its mitigation and adaptation policies therein. Besides, as an accession country to the European Union (EU), Türkiye is closely following the EU policies and developing legislation on climate change and environment to comply with the related acquis.
Currently, Türkiye’s climate change policy is structured by various sectoral, local, and national policy documents, strategies, and action plans on mitigation and adaptation. Türkiye confirms to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 41% through 2030 (695 Mt CO2 eq in year 2030) compared to the Business as Usual (BAU) scenario given in Türkiye’s first NDC considering 2012 as the base year (reference year). Türkiye’s updated first NDC is economy-wide and includes comprehensive mitigation and adaptation actions as well as consideration of means of implementation. Türkiye does however project to peak its emissions at the latest in the year 2038.
GREEN DEAL ACTION PLAN
In order to reach the net zero target by 2053, the "Green Deal Action Plan" (GDAP) of Türkiye was published on 16th of July 2021 with the Presidential Circular numbered 2021/15. The Action Plan, including a total of 32 objectives and 81 actions under nine main headings, dwells on the green transformation of Türkiye’s industries and the adoption of measures especially in areas related to trade and industry. The GDAP includes actions to be taken in a wide range of areas, such as Combating Climate Change, a Green and Circular Economy, Green Finance, Carbon Border Adjustments, Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy Supply, Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Smart Transportation and Diplomacy in order to facilitate the green transformation towards a lowcarbon, resource-efficient and circular economic structure.
SHIFT TO CLIMATE-FRIENDLY AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Since 2015, Türkiye is implementing policies and plans supporting effective management and control of GHG emissions from the agriculture sector. Rehabilitation of grazing lands, land consolidation in agricultural areas, supporting the minimum tillage methods, environmental agricultural land protection program, chemical fertilizer management, animal manure management, reducing food loss and waste, adopting innovative technology and practices, organic agriculture, and good agricultural practices are policies that have critical importance in managing and controlling GHG emissions directly or indirectly.
Land consolidation has been a significant and long-term policy in Türkiye and supports climate adaptation. Increasing agricultural efficiency and fuel savings are essential and long-term policies in Türkiye’s fight against climate change. 4.76 million hectares of land suitable for consolidation within the existing 14.3 million hectares of agricultural land were completed by the end of 2020. Regarding inland consolidation, a total of 8.5 million hectares will be completed in 2023.
Türkiye is below the world average in consumption of both meat and dairy products. Considering the increasing population and projected growth in consumption, emission management in the sector has become a critical issue. However, it will be difficult challenge for Türkiye to implement policies to control the methane emissions originating from the agriculture sector, as both dairy and meat sectors are very fragile and investment possibilities limited. Substantial financial resources will be needed for advanced policies of methane emission management.
LEGISLATION
The primary guiding policy documents and sectoral legislation in the agriculture sector are listed below;
· Soil Conservation and Land Use Law (2005)
· Amending the Law on Soil Conservation and Land Use Law (2014)
· Law on Land Arrangement in Irrigated Areas (1984)
· Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Strategy for Anatolian Steppe Ecosystems (2022-2036)
· Türkiye's Strategy and Action Plan for Combatting Agricultural Drought (2023-2027)
· Strategic Plan of The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (2019-2023)
· Türkiye's Green Deal Action Plan (2021)
· Türkiye's National Climate Change Strategy (2010-2023)
· Türkiye's National Climate Change Action Plan (2011-2023)
· Environmentally Purpose Agricultural Land Protection (ÇATAK) Program (2005- 2020)
· Climate Council Final Declaration of Recommendations (2022)
· Green Growth Technology Roadmap for Fertilizer Sector (2022).
Türkiye's main mitigation policies in the agriculture sector until 2030 are as follows;
· To control methane emissions by regulating animal feed rations,
· To ensure optimum nitrogen fertilizer use in plant production,
· To increase the manuring process in biogas plants,
· To reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizers alternately with legumes in crop production,
To improve practices in cattle breeding, rational feeding, and regulation of the number of animals,
· To use of agricultural biomass for energy generation and the improvement of methane production from manure; enhancement of rice cultivation technology using a subsurface irrigation system,
· To optimize the crop allocation combined with improvement of application methods and standards of mineral and organic fertilizers,
· To train farmers on new methods and technologies,
· To improve risk reduction against natural hazards for food security, including agriculture-related adaptation measures, such as crop rotation, agrotechnical development of forecasting, and soil conservation practices to reduce drought, water, and wind erosion.
· To assess the volume of water availability for use in a basin and dividing up the available water for sectoral use (e.g. irrigation, industry, energy production) and ecosystem maintenance via water allocation plans
IPARD
As part of the European Union’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance Rural Development (IPARD) program, the government plans to funnel loans totaling 14 million euros ($14.6 million) between 2021 and 2027 for environment-friendly projects, including rainwater harvesting, windbreaks, organic agriculture and practices providing protection against water and wind erosion.
GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is open for international co-operation in agricultural activities such as rain harvesting, reduced soil cultivation, implementing the direct sowing method, combating agricultural drought, land consolidation, organic agriculture, pasture improvement and more.
The "Agricultural Drought Fighting Strategy Action Plan" includes monitoring and evaluating the occupancy rates of dams, meteorological data and grain phenological observation findings as a whole.
With the Agricultural Information System, activities are carried out to protect water resources, transfer or transmit water efficiently to consumption points, modernize irrigation systems and determine crop patterns in plant production according to the water resources in the region.
The Agricultural Insurance Law protects farmers from the damage brought on by dangers associated with climate change including frost, hail, heavy precipitation and drought.
Research on energy production by making us of secondary products that do not pose a threat to or compete with food safety is also carried out within the ministry within the scope of R&D activities. In addition, research on plant varieties and the effects on yield, quality and agricultural activities in plants are investigated in different climate change scenarios.
The determination of plant irrigation programs through research projects for the efficient and sustainable use of soil and water resources, the development of appropriate technology and irrigation programs for the best use of irrigation water in water-scarce situations during dry seasons, the widespread use of microbial fertilizers, the measurement and monitoring of soil moisture, the monitoring of carbon sequestration in the soil, the avoidance of tillage and water harvesting (rainwater management) studies are carried out by several departments of the Ministry.