Turkey

Turkey warms up to global climate initiative

ANKARA, Turkey, 15 August 2005 - Turkey is joining the international community in tackling the burning issue of global warming.

The Government of Turkey and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) agreed the way ahead for Turkey to confront the global threat of climate change at a signing ceremony attended by Jakob Simonsen, UNDP Representative in Turkey, and Professor Hasan Z. Sarikaya, Undersecretary of the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

The accord, signed at the beginning of August, outlines future activities including the preparation of Turkey's Initial National Communication, which will report on the steps the country is taking to implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Some $405,000 from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)"s trust fund for developing countries was allocated for the project.

Turkey ratified the UNFCCC, the treaty aimed at mobilizing the international community against the threat of global warming, in 2004. The convention seeks to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gases at a low level.

The agreed project will analyze the potential impacts of climate change, inventory Turkey's greenhouse gas emissions and GHG emission projections until 2020 and assess alternative energy scenarios and measures to reduce emissions, as well as enhance local expertise, prepare the initial national communication report and generate public awareness of the issue.

An inter-ministerial National Climate Change Coordination Council has been formed under the direction of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. UNDP Turkey will act as implementing agency and provide consulting services.

 

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Aygen Aytac
UNDP Turkey
+90 312 454 11 05
aygen.aytac@undp.org

Information about the GEF can be found at www.thegef.org

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