Turkey is facing growing questions over its climate commitments as it hosts the United Nations climate summit, COP31, in Antalya alongside Australia. While the country is promoting electrification as a major solution to global climate change, its continued dependence on coal and natural gas and plans for new oil and gas exploration have raised concerns about the credibility of its environmental ambitions.
Turkey wants to increase the share of global energy demand met by electricity from the current 20% to 35% by 2035. However, experts warn that electrification can reduce greenhouse gas emissions only when electricity is generated from cleaner and renewable sources.
The contradiction has become particularly visible as Turkey continues to pursue fossil fuel investments despite its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2053.
Electrification Push Contrasts With Continued Fossil Fuel Dependence
Coal and natural gas together accounted for more than half of Turkey’s electricity generation. In 2025, coal contributed 33% of electricity production, while natural gas accounted for another 22%.
Although renewable energy capacity has expanded rapidly, the country’s continued reliance on fossil fuels means that achieving its climate targets will require a major shift in energy policy.
Ahead of his address at COP31 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the discovery of two new oilfields, describing the development as encouraging.
In early 2026, state owned Turkish Petroleum also signed agreements with major international energy companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron and BP, to explore and develop additional oil and gas resources.
These developments have raised concerns about how Turkey intends to reconcile its fossil fuel expansion with its long-term climate commitments.
Turkey occupies an unusual position under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the international treaty governing annual climate negotiations and the Paris Agreement.
When the convention was established in 1992, countries were divided into different categories according to their economic circumstances and responsibilities for addressing climate change.
Annex I included industrialised countries and economies in transition expected to take the lead in reducing emissions. Annex II consisted of wealthier industrialised nations required to provide financial and technological assistance to developing countries. Most developing nations were classified as Non-Annex I countries.
Turkey was initially included in both Annex I and Annex II because of its membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
However, it argued that its economic conditions and historically lower emissions justified different treatment from other OECD members.
In 2001, an international compromise removed Turkey from Annex II while retaining its Annex I status, making it the only country with this particular classification.
This arrangement meant Turkey was no longer required to provide climate finance to developing countries but also faced restrictions on accessing certain international funding mechanisms available to them.
The dispute continued for years and contributed to delays in Turkey’s ratification of the Paris Agreement, which it eventually joined in 2021.
Since ratifying the Paris Agreement, Turkey has secured substantial international financial support for its energy transition.
A major development was a $3.2 billion financing package involving the World Bank, France, Germany and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The funding is intended to support renewable energy development, improve energy efficiency and encourage greater private sector investment.
However, financial assistance alone may not be sufficient to deliver the country’s climate ambitions.
A roundtable involving United Nations affiliated officials and academic experts in July 2026 found that Turkey’s climate commitments often express ambitious goals without clearly explaining how they will be achieved.
The experts also highlighted that successful pilot projects frequently fail to develop into broader government policies.
They called for COP31 to become an “implementation COP”, focusing on delivering existing climate commitments rather than announcing additional promises.
Fossil Fuel Deals and Summit Sponsorship Raise Concerns
Turkey’s climate ambitions have also faced criticism over its choice of corporate sponsors for COP31.
Environmental activists have questioned the involvement of major business groups facing environmental controversies. One of the summit’s official partners, described as a sustainable transformation partner, is associated with plans to build additional coal fired power plants.
Another sponsor has been linked to deforestation connected with coal mining activities.
Critics argue that the involvement of companies associated with environmentally damaging projects raises questions about the summit’s commitment to a genuine transition towards sustainable development.
Apart from environmental concerns, the summit has also faced criticism over its approach to participation and inclusiveness.
Speakers participating in the host managed Green Zone have reportedly been required to sign a declaration promising to comply with Turkish law and standards of “public morality”.
Critics have pointed out that the declaration does not include the standard United Nations protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
It also cautions delegates against interfering in Turkey’s internal affairs, raising concerns that political dissent could face restrictions.
Turkey’s unusual position within the international climate framework helps explain some of the challenges it has faced in securing climate finance and implementing its energy transition.
However, experts argue that these circumstances do not fully explain its continued dependence on coal and gas, expansion of fossil fuel exploration or concerns surrounding the inclusiveness of the climate summit.
With Turkey hosting COP31 and Australia leading the negotiations the summit has brought renewed attention to the gap between climate commitments and actual government policies.
The central challenge for Turkey will be to demonstrate that its electrification ambitions can translate into meaningful emissions reductions through a genuine shift away from fossil fuels.