According to information compiled by an AA correspondent from the Pre-Accession Economic Reform Programme covering the 2026–2028 period, Türkiye aims to implement the Emissions Trading System (ETS) as a market-based mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The planned system is expected to drive transformation, particularly in sectors with high greenhouse gas emissions such as cement, iron and steel, chemicals, and aluminum. Following the start of the implementation phase of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) at the beginning of this year, accelerated efforts envisage the introduction of an emissions cap and the trading of allowances within this cap on the market.
In order to reduce emissions, steer investments toward clean technologies, and establish a carbon pricing system aligned with international regulations, various regulatory arrangements for the ETS are planned to be completed this year, along with the launch of pilot implementations. The design of Türkiye’s ETS will also take into account alignment with the European Union (EU) Emissions Trading System.
According to the roadmap, the ETS Market Management System Platform developed by Energy Exchange Istanbul is expected to be operated in a test environment, while security tests of the Transaction Registry System are targeted to be completed in 2026. Emissions monitoring, reporting, and verification systems are also planned to be integrated into the Energy Exchange Istanbul infrastructure. In addition, participant training programs for facilities covered by the ETS, as well as an online guidance document, are scheduled to be completed this year.
While efforts to establish Türkiye’s ETS are expected to continue in 2027, the pilot ETS period is projected to run until 2028. If the pilot phase proceeds as planned, the first compliance period of the ETS is targeted to begin in 2028. During this process, the impacts of the system on various sectors are also intended to be assessed.
The programme also includes the findings of a study conducted in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the potential impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on the Turkish economy. According to the study, the costs that may arise from the implementation of CBAM could be significantly reduced if Türkiye establishes its own ETS. Calculations indicate that the projected cost of EUR 138 million for 2027 could decrease to EUR 56 million, while the estimated cost of EUR 2.579 billion for 2032 could be reduced to EUR 1.079 billion.
Through the ETS, Türkiye aims to internalize a significant portion of CBAM-related costs domestically and to use the revenues generated to accelerate national low-carbon development. With the establishment of this system, an important milestone is expected to be achieved in line with Türkiye’s 2053 net-zero emissions target.
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