ANKARA
Türkiye has increased the share of renewables in its total installed electricity capacity to 62% by expanding wind and solar power, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.
Speaking at the Introduction Program of the Cemre Fund, the president said: “By expanding wind and solar power, we increased the share of renewables in total installed capacity to 62%.”
He added that investments in nuclear energy, which had been neglected for nearly a century, have also been accelerated as part of efforts to diversify the country’s energy mix.
He said Türkiye ranks among the top countries globally in afforestation and is among those increasing forest assets the most in Europe.
Over the past 23 years, Erdogan explained that more than 7.5 billion saplings have been planted across the country, describing the afforestation drive as “almost a revolution.”
He also said the government aims to provide over 82 million square meters (approximately 882 million square feet) of public gardens across all 81 provinces, noting that 314 such projects covering 38.7 million square meters (around 416.6 million square feet) have already been completed.
“Today, the whole world stands on the threshold of serious tests regarding the environment and climate issues,” he said, adding: “Wherever we are in the world, it is neither possible nor right to ignore the climate and environmental crisis.”
“Industrial waste, sprays, smoke, petroleum and pharmaceutical waste, plastic products, chemical fertilizers and garbage are polluting our environment very rapidly,” Erdogan said, warning that air, water and soil are increasingly affected.
He noted that microplastics have become one of the biggest threats to marine life and said a plastic bottle discarded in nature can continue polluting the environment for nearly four centuries.
“We are at such a point that wherever we are in the world, it is not possible, nor is it right, to ignore the climate and environmental crisis. We are in a period when we must increase our efforts and mobilize more people, especially young people,” he added.
Erdogan emphasized that environmental awareness is “a consciousness of homeland” and “a consciousness of building a future.”
“Environmental awareness is also a consciousness of existence, a consciousness of realizing that we are human, and a consciousness of understanding the balance in the universe,” he said.
“We are making intense efforts to protect nature and leave a more livable, more beautiful, and cleaner Türkiye to future generations,” he said.
He said the Zero Waste Project, carried out under the auspices of first lady Emine Erdogan, has evolved into a global environmental movement and forms the backbone of Türkiye’s environmental initiatives.
He noted that Türkiye has undertaken the hosting of COP31 and will welcome nearly 200 countries in Antalya this year.
“Following challenging diplomatic negotiations, we assumed the hosting of COP31. This year in Antalya, we will host nearly 200 countries,” he said.
He said: “We will say ‘It is no longer time for words, but for action.’”
“We are never pursuing political discrimination in environmental projects,” Erdogan said, adding that every step contributing to protecting nature is supported.