Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the ceremony, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said that while the issue of the environment is not yet on the agenda, Kocaeli Chamber of Industry has put forward a very accurate vision by taking on this work.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that he and Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, Kocaeli Chamber of Industry President, worked together at TOBB Board of Directors and IKV. “I'm taking advantage of his knowledge and experience. We have carried out many works together from the first moment of this pandemic. We collected information from all provinces and sectors, especially Kocaeli. Kocaeli CI President Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, my brother and colleague at TOBB, became an interpreter for your problems and brought forth your demands. Together, we have submitted more than 100 proposals and demands to our Government. Some of them came to life, some of them didn't. From now on, we will put on our agenda every topic that you will bring to our Chambers. We will tell the relevant ministers in person and continue to follow them up together with our presidents.”

He noted that the Covid-19 pandemic showed everyone how viciously the world is being exploited and that problems can only be solved together.

“If we don't all act together, we can't prevent climate change catastrophe. We cannot succeed in the fight against the pandemic,” Hisarciklıoglu said. “The European Union has launched a concrete program for climate change. The goal is to reduce carbon emissions to 1990 levels in 2030. That's 55 percent down. In this context, the EU imposes a carbon equalization tax on some of the products it will import. If you pollute the environment, if you pollute the air, the carbon equalization tax will come into effect. They'll be able to look at the energy in the lighting you're using. For example, if there was a $50 tax amount for 1 ton of carbon emissions, the amount of tax that we as Turkey alone would have to transfer to the EU would be around 2 billion euros. So 2 billion euros will be funded by the EU out of all our pockets. It's our choice. Are we going to convert 2 billion euros or give it to Europe? This amount will rise over time.If we do not take the necessary measures, we will probably start transferring 2 billion euros directly to the EU every year from 2023.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that in this new period, countries that do not trigger technological change in their country will lose international competitiveness. Therefore, Turkey needs to quickly review its existing incentive system on the axis of green transformation."

“That's why our agenda should be fair transition, fair transformation, fair competition. In this context, first, our Parliament must now take a decision on the Paris Climate Agreement. Second, Turkey needs to prepare a serious carbon emissions intent document that extends to 2050. This means an economic transformation program that extends to 2050. Third, the Modernization of the Customs Union with the European Union should be carried out to cover the Green Deal. Fourth, a strategic vision should be put forward in the public sector, including the private sector, on the Green Deal. Fifth, CDS premiums should also be reduced to facilitate the financing of these investments. In this, a reform, a roadmap should be put forth. The damage that humans do to the world and other creatures on Earth is immense. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the damage before it is too late, before it grows. It's time to be proactive, not reactive. Let's act before it's too late.”