Fossil fuel air pollution costs Turkey $55 billion annually

A report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and the Right to Clean Air Platform (THHP) reveals that fossil fuel-related air pollution (PM2.5) costs Turkey approximately $55 billion per year. This figure represents 4.1% of the country's 2024 GDP and is roughly 2.5 times the total budget of the Ministry of Health.

Fossil fuels are responsible for 52% of PM2.5 pollution in Turkey, contributing to an estimated 26,500 premature deaths annually due to cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, lung cancer, strokes, and diabetes. The pollution also results in a loss of approximately 8.5 million workdays per year.

The study highlights Turkey's heavy reliance on fossil fuels, noting that coal accounts for 35% and natural gas for 19% of electricity production. In the industrial sector, fossil fuels constitute about 60% of final energy consumption, while road transport relies heavily on diesel (66%), LPG (17%), and gasoline (16%). Experts at the press conference called for a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels to mitigate these health and economic burdens.