Türkiye Green Taxonomy Regulation Published in the Official Gazette

Türkiye Green Taxonomy Regulation was published in the Official Gazette. What activities will be considered "green", what awaits banks? Here are the details.

Türkiye Green Taxonomy Regulation came into force after being published in the Official Gazette dated 24 September 2026. The regulation prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change ties official criteria for the first time to which economic activities will be considered "environmentally friendly". The aim is to prevent companies from randomly declaring themselves "green". The regulation also defines the concept of greenwashing.

What is Türkiye Green Taxonomy?

You can think of the taxonomy as a common dictionary for sustainable investments. This structure, which is Türkiye's version of a similar system that has been implemented in the European Union for years, is based on the Climate Law. The administrator of the system will be the Climate Change Presidency. The Presidency will work with a committee of 15 people consisting of representatives from ministries, regulatory boards and private sector.

Six environmental targets were set

The regulation includes six environmental goals: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change, sustainable use of water and marine resources, transition to a circular economy, preventing pollution and protecting biodiversity.

How will an activity be considered “green”?

For an activity to be considered compatible with the taxonomy, it must meet three conditions. The activity must make a significant contribution to at least one of the objectives. Must not cause serious damage to other targets. It must also comply with international labor and human rights standards. The size of the contribution will be determined by the technical screening criteria to be published by the Presidency. Production activities using solid fossil fuels such as coal will not be considered sustainable under any circumstances.

2029 period begins for banks

The most striking aspect of the regulation is on the reporting side. Companies will be able to voluntarily report their income, investments and expenses compatible with the taxonomy. Reporting will be mandatory for banks, insurance and pension companies, brokerage firms and portfolio management companies. Financial institutions were given a transition period until January 1, 2029. Reports will be uploaded to the Online Taxonomy Management System and made publicly available within six months following the end of the fiscal period. Administrative fines may be imposed on those who do not fulfill their obligations.

So what does this regulation mean?