Will Turkey sign Kyoto?

Bureaucrats confused, eye gov't will to sign Kyoto
Thursday, May 22, 2008
ANKARA TDN Parliament Bureau

Turkish bureaucracy is divided on whether to sign the Kyoto Protocol, looking with concern at a lack of political will to sign the international document, it was revealed at a parliamentary commission meeting yesterday.

Representatives of various ministries, relevant institutions and nongovernmental organizations came together yesterday with members of Parliament's environmental commission to discuss the Kyoto Protocol and Turkey's position on signing it.

The foundations of the Kyoto Protocol, which aims to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warning, were laid by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, or UNCED, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. It was opened for signature in 1997 and came into force in 2005.

The meeting revealed that government ministries are divided on the matter. During the meeting, Yavuz Cabbar, deputy undersecretary at the Industry Ministry, said it would be a mistake to sign the protocol before Turkey understands what its requirements under the agreement will be.

Cabbar's view was initially challenged by Foreign Ministry official Nursel Berberoğlu, who said, “It's not true that we will be obliged to limit greenhouse gas emissions if we sign it. The world is dynamic. Institutions are static. We have to sign the protocol.”

Berberoğlu's view was supported by officials from the Environment and Forestry Ministry. "No additional requirements will be applied to us if we sign it. Therefore we have to look to the post-2012 period,” a ministry official said during the meeting.

In 2012 a new climate regime will come into force, as discussed by the Conference of the Parties, or COP, an international platform composed of countries that signed the protocol. The COP will convene in Poland this December.

What is the cost?

Another point of disagreement among the bureaucrats was what the cost to Turkey will be if it signs the protocol. A representative of the State Planning Organization, or DPT, said according to an Environment Ministry study, the financial burden of signing the protocol could be as much as $40 billion. But some bureaucrats opposed the DTP's representation of the cost, arguing that it would not total more than $20 billion.

MPs react

This divergence among top bureaucrats frustrated members of the parliamentary commission. “There are unclear points about the protocol. It is still a new process. The decision should be made only after a comprehensive study is conducted,” Mustafa Kemal Cengis, the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP's, Çanakkale deputy said.

Similarly, Mustafa Öztürk, the Justice and Development Party, or AKP's, Hatay deputy criticized the bureaucrats, saying, “Those who were saying a year ago that signing the protocol would be murder are now in favor of it … We should have a true picture first and then establish our plan for its completion.” He added, “For me, signing Kyoto will also be a positive step with regard to our European Union membership.”

Greenpeace recalls commitment

Representatives of nongovernmental organizations were also present at the meeting. “The protocol should be signed immediately. Turkey should be part of the process. The relevant ministries should not waste time in preparing hypotheticals,” Hilal Atıcı, a Greenpeace representative told officials yesterday.

Commission to call on government

In the meantime, the members of the commission plan to issue a joint call to the government to sign the Kyoto protocol before the legislative year ends in late June.

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