Young climate activists file lawsuit against Erdoğan over 'inadequate emission goals'

Click to read the article in Turkish

Young climate activists have filed a lawsuit against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Ministry of Environment, Urban Planning and Climate Change, alleging that Turkey's Paris Climate Agreement goals are inadequate.

Climate activists Atlas Sarrafoglu, Ela Naz Birdal, and Seren Anaçoğlu started a signature campaign on Change.org, inviting everyone to support them in their legal battle.

The campaign text summarizes as follows:

"Turkey's decision to increase greenhouse gas emissions, which is incompatible with the goal of stopping climate change at 1.5 degrees Celsius, as stated in the Paris Climate Agreement, violates our human rights.

"The continuation of the climate crisis violates our rights to life, intergenerational equality, protection of private life, health, cultural rights, development of our material and spiritual existence, living in a healthy and balanced environment, education, work, and access to healthy food and water, all of which are guaranteed by the Constitution, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the European Convention on Human Rights.

"We are suing Turkey for violating our human rights by pursuing a goal that lacks scientific basis and is actually a 'greenhouse gas increase decision.' Stopping climate change at 1.5 degrees Celsius is our human right."

"You are doing nothing"

"You are destroying the future of young people in this country that you refer to as 'the future of this country.' You are doing nothing against the climate crisis that threatens Turkey the most!

"For years, during your time in power, you have attended international climate summits and engaged in climate negotiations. Yet, thanks to you, we became the sixth country to ratify the Paris Climate Agreement.

"What is Turkey not doing to fight the climate crisis?"

"Climate disasters"

"There is no commitment to reducing emissions! Turkey has pledged to reduce its emissions by 41 percent in 2030, which is not a real reduction. Furthermore, it says it will continue to increase its emissions until 2038, and by 2030, there will be an increase of more than 30 percent.

"There is no exit date from coal and fossil fuels! There is no effective climate action plan in the energy and mining sector! The climate crisis is in our homes. Climate disasters are destroying our homes, leaving us homeless and limiting our access to food and water.

"Change the system, not just the climate. Make a real commitment to reduce emissions. Determine Turkey's decarbonization policy through scientific methods and make it a binding legal rule." (TY/VK)