The launch event of the Turkish Industrial Decarbonization Investment Platform (TIDIP), which was launched to provide financing for the green transformation and decarbonization investments of the Turkish industry within the scope of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), hosted by Turkey for the first time in Antalya, was held.
Speaking at the TIDIP Official Launch Event and Partnership Participation Ceremony, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated that TIDIP offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen international cooperation at a time when joint climate commitments need to be supported by concrete policies and investments. Minister Kacır said, "We are taking an important step in this direction by bringing together governments, international financial institutions and industry in order to accelerate Türkiye's industrial transformation.
The extraordinary expansion of economic activity over the last two centuries has brought unprecedented improvements in leadership standards to the world. However, this progress has placed enormous pressure on our planet's natural resources. The increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters remind us that the environmental choices we make today will have profound consequences for future generations. "Fighting against climate change requires determined national action and sustainable international cooperation," he said.
'Türkiye TOOK CONCRETE STEPS TO FULFILL ITS COMMITMENTS'
Pointing out that it is not accepted that countries face unequal technological capabilities and financial access opportunities in different economic conditions, Minister Kacır said, "Climate justice requires fair sharing of responsibilities, taking into account the countries' historical contributions to global emissions, development needs and mutual capabilities. In line with these principles, Turkey has consistently supported international climate cooperation and taken concrete steps to fulfill its own commitments.
We ratified the Paris Agreement, in which we announced our commitment to achieving zero emissions. By enacting Türkiye's first Climate Law in 2025, we created a comprehensive legal framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote green growth and strengthen climate adaptation. This law also provides a legal basis for the national emissions trading system and is of great importance in advancing the decarbonization of the Turkish economy. "In line with our national development priorities, we continue the green transformation of our economy, focusing especially on the industrial sector," he said.
EUROPE'S LEADING MANUFACTURER
Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; Stating that they have built a diversified and internationally competitive manufacturing base that increases economic growth, exports and employment, Minister Kacır said, "Today, Turkey is Europe's leading producer in the fields of commercial vehicles, buses, household appliances, solar panels, steel, ferro-chrome, wood-based panels and cement. We are also among Europe's leading manufacturers in the production of aluminum, ceramics, plastic products, motor vehicles and wind turbines.
Our exports exceeded 285 million dollars. As the global economy moves towards zero-carbon production, we are determined to maintain and develop this industrial strength. Realizing this vision requires significant financial resources. Our low-carbon transition pathways provide a clear indication of investment requirements. We estimate that decarbonizing our steel, cement, aluminum, chemical and fertilizer industries in line with Türkiye's zero emission target will require an investment of more than 70 billion dollars.
But this challenge extends beyond the scale of funding required. Industrial decarbonization; It includes developing technologies, high startup costs, long investment maturities and risks that traditional financing arrangements cannot always cover. "Türkiye, which is aware of these needs, has already implemented important policy measures and financing instruments," he said.
OVER 1 BILLION DOLLARS OF FINANCING
Explaining that they launched the Green Transformation Program to accelerate investments in clean, more efficient and sustainable industrial production, Minister Kacır said:
"In cooperation with the World Bank, we provided over 1 billion dollars of financing to manufacturers, SMEs and green technology initiatives. We also signed a 250 million dollar financing agreement with the Islamic Development Bank for the Sustainable Organized Industrial Zones Project. These initiatives have created a solid foundation for our industrial transformation.
However, meeting the investment needs of the coming decades requires greater coordination, more effective project preparation and stronger international financial partnerships. With this understanding, we signed a transition declaration with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corporation to establish the Turkish Industry Carbon Reduction Investment Platform. This platform is designed to bridge the critical gap between identifying industry decarbonization opportunities and providing the financing needed to realize them.
We set ambitious and measurable goals for the platform. We aim to provide more than 5 billion euros in support for industrial decarbonization investments by 2030 and for annual greenhouse gas emission reductions to exceed 20 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. We have established a strong governance and coordination framework to ensure TIDIP achieves its objectives. We welcome the European Union's commitment to provide 5.7 million euros in technical assistance, which will strengthen the platform's capacity to prepare and advance advanced industrial decarbonization investments. Our international cooperation has already started to turn into concrete financial commitment.
The Climate Investment Funds' Clean Technology Fund has approved $250 million in concessional financing under Türkiye's Industrial Decarbonization Investment Plan. This financing, which supports low-carbon investments in our steel, cement, aluminum, chemical, glass and ceramic industries, accounts for approximately 37 percent of Türkiye's greenhouse gas emissions and approximately 28 percent of our exports. "With the immediate financing it provides, the CIF allocation offers the opportunity to mobilize investment on a much larger scale."
'Türkiye PROVED ITSELF'
Emphasizing that Türkiye has proven itself as an industrial and manufacturing power, Minister Kacır said, "Our aim now is to build on this success by adopting cleaner technologies, increasing industrial efficiency and strengthening our competitiveness in a changing global economy. We see TIDIP as an important tool in pursuing this goal and moving towards our net zero emissions target. We also believe that the cooperation established under TIDIP can offer valuable lessons to international efforts to accelerate industrial decarbonization and improve access to climate finance. Ultimately, this "The success of the platform will be measured by the investments made, the technologies deployed and the emissions reduced in our industrial sectors," he said.
