The Climate Law seeks to combat climate change in line with the green growth vision and net zero emissions target. It covers the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change adaptation activities, which are fundamental to combating climate change, as well as planning and implementation tools, revenues, permits, and inspections, and the procedures and principles of the related legal and institutional framework.
This Law adopts the approaches of equality, climate justice, precaution, participation, integration, sustainability, transparency, just transition, and progress. It obliges public institutions and organizations, as well as real and legal persons, to comply with and implement the measures and regulations to be taken in the public interest in accordance with this Law, in a timely manner. In the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the country's development priorities and special conditions will be taken into account in line with the net-zero emissions target, and measures will be taken within this framework.
Article 5 of the Climate Law lays down the activities to combat climate change, consisting of greenhouse gas emission reduction activities and climate change adaptation activities. Relevant public institutions and organizations are obligated to adapt, prepare, implement, monitor, and update planning tools containing medium- and long-term targets within the framework of greenhouse gas emission reduction activities. The public institutions and organizations are responsible for implementing mitigation measures, such as: (i) efficiency of energy, water, and raw material; (ii) preventing pollution at source; (iii) increasing the use of renewable energy; (iv) reducing the carbon footprint of products, businesses, institutions, and organizations; (v) using alternative clean or low-carbon fuels and raw materials; (vi) expanding electrification; and (vii) developing and increasing the use of clean technologies, in a manner consistent with the net-zero emissions target and the circular economy approach, in the sectors listed in the NDCs. Relevant institutions and organizations shall take measures to prevent carbon sink losses in forests, agricultural lands, pastures, and wetlands to offset emissions towards achieving the net-zero emissions target.
This Law provides for the establishment of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and lays down provisions on the principles of allocations, the composition and duties of the Carbon Market Board, and voluntary carbon markets and offsets. It gives priority to climate-friendly investments with a high potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions or adapting to climate change, as well as activities that contribute to meeting the research, development, and sectoral technological transformation needs required for green growth, and the mechanisms implemented within this scope. Article 14 sets out administrative sanctions, including but not limited to: violation of prohibitions or restrictions related to ozone-depleting substances, fluorinated greenhouse gases, hydrofluorocarbons and the monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, and businesses operating within the scope of the ETS without a greenhouse gas emission permit.