Türkiye’s renewable energy policy and global climate targets in the context of COP29

The aim of this study is to examine the historical development of Türkiye’s renewable energy policies and to evaluate the reflections of these policies on the COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2024. The study addresses the transformation of Türkiye’s energy policies, the development of renewable energy sources, climate change policies, and the country’s alignment with global climate targets from a holistic perspective. A qualitative research method was adopted in the study, and document analysis was used as the main data collection technique. Within this framework, COP29 decision texts, national energy strategy documents, Türkiye’s Nationally Determined Contribution, international energy reports, renewable energy statistics, and relevant academic studies were examined. The data obtained were evaluated through content analysis. Renewable energy policies, reduction of carbon emissions, sustainable development, energy transformation, net-zero emission targets, and the COP29 process were considered as the main analytical themes. The findings indicate that Türkiye has made significant progress in renewable energy policies, particularly in recent years. Investments in solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy have played an important role in the country’s energy transformation process. The COP29 process has made sustainability, green transformation, net-zero emission targets, and alignment with international climate goals more visible within Türkiye’s energy policy agenda. However, dependence on fossil fuels, limitations in energy infrastructure, and the need for financing remain major obstacles to full alignment with global climate targets. As a result, Türkiye’s energy policies can be described as being in a transition phase before a complete transformation. The study concludes that renewable energy investments should be accelerated, energy efficiency should be improved, technological infrastructure should be strengthened, and energy policies should be implemented in a more integrated manner with climate policies.