Türkiye scores 'very low' in climate change index

Lake Saray Tuz, a saline lake in Van, dried up last year. (Photo: AA/File)

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Although Türkiye ratified the Paris Agreement last year, the country dropped six spots to 47th place on the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI).

The CCPI index looks at the climate performance and transparency of 63 countries and the European Union, which are together responsible for over 90% of all global greenhouse emissions. The four criteria of the index are Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Renewable Energy, Energy Use and Climate Policy.

The report published during the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, showed that while Turkey performs relatively well on renewable energy with 15th place, it still lags behind in other areas.

The country is in 33rd place in greenhouse gas emissions, 49th place on the energy use list, and is at 62nd place in climate policy, surpassing only Russia.

The report attributed Türkiye's low place due to developments such as the relaxation of a law that protects olive groves from mining on March 1. However, in September, Turkey's Council of State canceled this regulation. (TY/VK)