What happened
Türkiye has published its Green Taxonomy Regulation in the Official Gazette. Prepared by the Climate Change Presidency, the framework sets technical screening criteria for 137 economic activities across 16 sectors.
The taxonomy is designed to identify investments that qualify as environmentally sustainable. It uses six environmental objectives: cutting greenhouse-gas emissions; adapting to climate change; protecting water and marine resources; advancing circularity; preventing and controlling pollution; and protecting and restoring biodiversity and ecosystems.
An activity must meet three conditions to be considered aligned. It must make a substantial contribution to at least one objective, avoid causing significant harm to the others, and comply with minimum social safeguards.
Why it matters
The regulation creates a common assessment framework for businesses and finance providers. It is intended to improve market transparency, limit misleading sustainability claims and help industrial companies seek international green finance.
It also supports Türkiye’s alignment with European Union climate standards and policies. Unlike the EU taxonomy, Türkiye’s initial scope includes agriculture and tourism, reflecting the country’s economic structure.
Reporting will operate differently for companies and finance providers. Reporting by the real economy will be voluntary, although banks and other finance institutions may request disclosures from companies applying for green finance. The Climate Change Presidency will determine the real-economy reporting rules. Financial regulators will set the requirements and templates for their sector.
What's next
Mandatory reporting for the financial sector starts on 1 January 2029. Further sectors and activities may be added through work by the Technical Expert Group and the Türkiye Taxonomy Committee. The technical screening criteria will be published on the Climate Change Presidency’s website.
Further details are available in the Ministry announcement on the Türkiye Green Taxonomy Regulation.
