The cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Turkey in the field of climate action has become a key pillar in enhancing efforts to address the phenomenon of climate change, through several strategic projects that contribute to achieving the climate neutrality targets in both countries. The environmental and climate cooperation between the UAE and Turkey is strengthened by a responsible approach to this issue, and recently there has been growing collaboration to enhance these relations, through the signing of several agreements and memorandums of understanding between the two sides regarding climate and environmental cooperation. The two countries signed 13 cooperation memorandums during the visit of His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, to the UAE last February, which included memorandums regarding climate and agricultural work, reflecting the two countries' commitment to building bridges of cooperation in areas that support the global trend towards climate neutrality, in line with the UAE's goal of enhancing international cooperation and exchanging successful experiences and practices to face all challenges for a sustainable future.
The deal included qualitative projects in the field of renewable energy. In terms of developmental projects in the environmental sector, leading companies in the UAE continue to expand their investments in this field after the Global Holding Company, one of the giant holding investment companies in the Middle East, acquired a 50% stake in "Kalyon Enerji," a leader in the clean energy market in Turkey, for 1.8 billion dirhams through its subsidiary "International Energy Holding." The deal included qualitative projects in renewable energy such as the photovoltaic power plant project in the Karapınar region of Konya, a wind energy project, a solar energy project in the capital Ankara, and a solar energy project in Gaziantep, in addition to other renewable energy projects in various cities in Turkey. This strategic cooperation is expected to positively impact the regional level by attracting the attention of foreign investors to invest in renewable energy projects.
The UAE will host the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change. Regarding international cooperation to combat climate challenges, the UAE is set to host the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) this year in "Expo Dubai." Turkey is also preparing to participate strongly in support of the UAE's sustainability perspective in light of the increasing climate ambitions of Turkey and the world. Turkey has set several targets for 2023 to support the global climate action journey in collaboration with the UAE and other countries. According to Anadolu Agency, Turkey has confirmed its ongoing commitment to combat climate change this year through intensifying the efforts of its concerned ministries to complete strategic projects addressing the phenomenon and its challenges, alongside taking various steps in 2023 in several sectors, notably trade, transport, agriculture, and industry.
Turkish projects in this regard include the "carbon-neutral airport project," after 18 airports in Turkey were approved for this purpose, while a study is currently underway to add 32 more airports to the same project. Additionally, Turkey is working on a "green railway" project by designing solar and wind energy stations that will provide 35% of the energy consumed by trains by 2025, in addition to opening an electric vehicle factory that underscores the Turkish government's commitment to reducing carbon emissions. In the context of Turkey’s climate and environmental efforts, Turkey launched the "Zero Waste" project in 2017 to combat the impact of waste on the environment, recycling it, and benefiting from it, aiming to achieve a recycling rate of 60% by 2030, in addition to launching the "Blue Zero Waste" program in June 2019 to protect and clean the seas and water resources from waste.
