Climate summits and environmental policy in Turkey

In early October 2026, political opposition emerged regarding an upcoming climate summit in Zonguldak. The Zafer Party argued that environmental protection should not be viewed as an alternative to the mining, production, and energy sectors that drive the local economy. Additionally, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) announced a ‘Peoples’ Climate Summit’ in Antalya for November, criticizing UN-led COP meetings for failing to reach binding decisions on fossil fuels and emphasizing the climate crisis as a threat to public health.

By mid-October, the Zonguldak Climate Summit convened at the TMMOB Chamber of Mining Engineers. The event brought together academics, activists, and political representatives to discuss the ecological and economic challenges of the Western Black Sea region. Participants addressed the impacts of heavy industry and thermal power plants, including air pollution and regional temperature increases of up to 8 degrees Celsius.

Speakers at the summit advocated for ‘justice for Zonguldak,’ calling for preferential access to international funds to support a ‘just transition.’ Discussions focused on green transformation, biomass utilization, and the implications of coal phase-out in response to the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.