11.08.2021 Kocaeli
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the 27th Şahabettin Bilgisu Environmental Award Ceremony organized by Kocaeli Chamber of Industry at Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Cultural Center.
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.”