Petition by young people in Turkey: 'Prepare a coal exit action plan for a carbon-free future'

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The Youth for Climate Turkey, as the representatives of Generation Z, have launched a petition demanding that Turkey take realistic and genuine steps towards achieving its 2053 decarbonization target.

"In order to do this, it is crucial that our country announces it will phase out coal by 2030," the Youth for Climate Turkey team has said in their petition titled "Turkey Must Exit Coal by 2030 for a Carbon-Free Future!"

Their petition reads as follows:

'Modeling studies show that it is possible'

"Wildfires, droughts, deathly heat waves, floods, hurricanes, loss of biodiversity... All these are consequences of climate crisis. If the emissions causing this crisis are not reduced and if we do not take steps towards a carbon-free economy, with every passing day we will continue to face extreme climatic events, in greater quantities and higher severity.

We, as representatives of Generation Z, demand that Turkey take realistic and genuine steps towards achieving its 2053 decarbonization target. In order for this, it is crucial that our country announces that it will phase out coal by 2030, which is one of the main causes of the climate crisis within the electricity sector.

"Modeling studies have shown that this is possible as long as the government puts an end to subsidizing and encouraging coal power plants while ensuring that the polluters pay.

'Still many steps to be taken by Turkey'

"World leaders' continuous support for fossil fuels is leading us towards a climate breakdown, and we are paying the price for the irreversible mistakes made today. According to the IPCC 1.5 special report, all OECD countries should phase out coal by 2030 at the latest.

"We do not want our future to be sacrificed to the devastating consequences of the climate crisis, and instead demand radical and immediate steps to be taken towards a carbon-neutral order. By ratifying the Paris Climate Agreement, Turkey took a step in the right direction, but there are still many steps to be taken. One of the first and most urgent ones is phasing out coal.

'Turkey's emission target inadequate'

"Turkey's average temperature in 2020 was 1.4 degrees Celsius above the 1981-2010 normal. In the same year, 984 extreme weather events occurred. If we continue doing 'business-as-usual', these extreme situations will increase. It is necessary for our country to develop urgent action policies in order to ensure a more equitable present and a more secure future for all.

"The emission reduction target promised by the Turkish government as of December 2021 is inadequate. As stated, by 2030 there will be at most 21 percent less (actually, reduction from increase) than the current emissions. Also, net zero reduction target is set for 2053.

"However, according to the current data of the Climate Action Tracker site, if each country continues like Turkey, global warming will be more than 4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

Demands of Youth for Climate Turkey

As the Youth for Climate Turkey movement, our demands for a Carbon-Free Future are:

• Preparation of Turkey's coal exit action plan for 2030 at the latest
• Announcement of no new coal power plants and cancellation of future plans
• Closing of existing coal-fired power plants (in a way that people who make their living from the power plant and related sectors will not be harmed) by announcing a just transition plan
• Termination of public subsidies to any fossil fuels, including coal (separating these resources for just transition and energy transition infrastructure)

Demands regarding all fossil fuels

"We would like to once again remind you of our demands regarding all fossil fuels: Organizing a local climate change partnership bringing together organizations from the public and private sectors that would work together in order to reduce emissions; minimizing the need for transport and promoting and enabling green transport methods; stopping deforestation.

When will Turkey announce its coal phase-out date for a carbon-free future? We are running out of time to act. Only together can we make our voices heard!

(TP/SD)