Türkiye’s geographical location has been advantageous, characterized by diverse climate zones, rich flora and fauna, abundant natural resources, fertile soils, and unique endemic species. Since the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye, successive governments have emphasized maintaining healthy environmental conditions for citizens’ well-being. However, due to Türkiye’s development targets, economic priorities have consistently prevailed over environmental concerns. As environmental issues such as pollution and resource depletion entered the international agenda in the 1970s, both state institutions and the Turkish public started to pay greater attention to these matters. Early examples of this growing awareness include the participation of the Turkish delegation at the 1972 Stockholm Conference and the establishment of environmental NGOs, such as the Doğal Hayatı Koruma Derneği (Wildlife Conservation Association) in 1975. Consequently, the concept of environmental protection in Türkiye has evolved in parallel with international developments. While Turkish governments have considered the international agenda on environmental issues and related negotiations, environment has rarely been prioritized in foreign policy. Global ecological problems such as pollution, ozone layer depletion, and climate change necessitate international cooperation and the establishment of effective international regimes. Therefore, Türkiye, like other countries, has been compelled to assess its position and reformulate its foreign policy strategy to align with international environmental regulations. The European Union accession process played a significant role in improving national environmental regulations and shaping. This chapter explores why and how Türkiye should tend to develop an environmental perspective in its foreign policy. We argue that Türkiye’s economic and national interests, rather than the worsening impacts of national and global environmental problems, have been the primary motivations for its participation in international environmental negotiations. However, Türkiye must also consider the socioeconomic, political, and environmental effects of the deepening ecological crisis, as well as its commitments to the international community, and thus reformulate its foreign policy from an environmental perspective. In this regard, the chapter examines Türkiye’s foreign policy position in international environmental negotiations, particularly in the creation of the ozone regime and the climate change conferences, with an emphasis on the Kyoto and Paris processes. The chapter concludes by discussing whether a purely interest-based perspective might undermine Türkiye’s international reputation and hinder effective environmental protection initiatives.

The Environment in Turkish Foreign Policy

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发表日期：

2026年

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Senem Atvur,
Ceren Uysal Oğuz

摘要

Türkiye’s geographical location has been advantageous, characterized by diverse climate zones, rich flora and fauna, abundant natural resources, fertile soils, and unique endemic species. Since the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye, successive governments have emphasized maintaining healthy environmental conditions for citizens’ well-being. However, due to Türkiye’s development targets, economic priorities have consistently prevailed over environmental concerns. As environmental issues such as pollution and resource depletion entered the international agenda in the 1970s, both state institutions and the Turkish public started to pay greater attention to these matters. Early examples of this growing awareness include the participation of the Turkish delegation at the 1972 Stockholm Conference and the establishment of environmental NGOs, such as the Doğal Hayatı Koruma Derneği (Wildlife Conservation Association) in 1975. Consequently, the concept of environmental protection in Türkiye has evolved in parallel with international developments. While Turkish governments have considered the international agenda on environmental issues and related negotiations, environment has rarely been prioritized in foreign policy. Global ecological problems such as pollution, ozone layer depletion, and climate change necessitate international cooperation and the establishment of effective international regimes. Therefore, Türkiye, like other countries, has been compelled to assess its position and reformulate its foreign policy strategy to align with international environmental regulations. The European Union accession process played a significant role in improving national environmental regulations and shaping. This chapter explores why and how Türkiye should tend to develop an environmental perspective in its foreign policy. We argue that Türkiye’s economic and national interests, rather than the worsening impacts of national and global environmental problems, have been the primary motivations for its participation in international environmental negotiations. However, Türkiye must also consider the socioeconomic, political, and environmental effects of the deepening ecological crisis, as well as its commitments to the international community, and thus reformulate its foreign policy from an environmental perspective. In this regard, the chapter examines Türkiye’s foreign policy position in international environmental negotiations, particularly in the creation of the ozone regime and the climate change conferences, with an emphasis on the Kyoto and Paris processes. The chapter concludes by discussing whether a purely interest-based perspective might undermine Türkiye’s international reputation and hinder effective environmental protection initiatives.