Environmental Perspective for Turkish Foreign Policy – Senem Atvur
Deepening environmental/ecological degradation and the
understanding of transboundary impacts of ecological problems led to the
development of international environmental politics and cooperation. Since 1972,
when the first international initiative on the environment -the UN Stockholm
Conference- was launched, nation-states’ ecological policies have been
influenced by international/global decisions and/or regulations. To cope with
the complex environmental problems such as pollution, water shortages,
deforestation, erosion, biodiversity loss, ozone depletion, nuclear fallout,
climate change and their multidimensional (political, economic, social, and
ecological) impacts, global cooperation among states and between state and
non-state actors become indispensable.
As environmental politics have been shaped through
bottom-up mechanisms within the global ecological negotiations, certain states
have begun integrating an environmental perspective into their foreign policy
strategies. Environmental foreign policy is a relatively new approach regarding
states’ policies toward ecological challenges. It defines how states determine
their position in international negotiations and safeguard their interests in
intrastate and international bargains regarding environmental regulations. In
this context, the role and influence of bureaucracy, political elites, and
different domestic political and social forces are considered regarding the
environmental foreign policy-making process.
Turkey faces crucial environmental challenges due to
the ecological destruction in and beyond the state borders. The first
environmental institutions in Turkey were established after 1972 following
international initiatives. Accordingly, Turkish ecological policy has been
formed harmoniously with international regulations, especially by emphasizing
the principle of sustainable development and common but differentiated
responsibilities. However, the priority of economic growth and development in Turkish
politics has so far affected the implementation of national environmental
regulations, compliance with international ecological procedures, and
environmental protection processes. Aggravating environmental problems in
Turkey, such as air, water, land pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity
loss, create vital risks for health, agriculture, and economic and ecological
sustainability.
Moreover, as Turkey is located in one of the climate
hotspots of the World -the Mediterranean Basin- the vulnerability of the
country has been rising. While the current environmental problems could not be
handled solely by the national and/or local governments, climate change, with
its potential to multiply the existing risks, poses a significant challenge for
Turkey. Therefore, the need for a comprehensive environmental policy that
focuses on the root causes of ecological problems and considers future
generations’ rights has been increasing. Undoubtedly, this new political
perspective should include an environmental foreign policy approach, not only
for defending the state’s interests in international negotiations and not to be
excluded from the global community in climate combat but also for strengthening
the environmental/ecological and climate resilience of the country.
Environmental issues and climate change have been
secondary to Turkish foreign policy. During the ratification process of the
Kyoto Protocol, Turkey used diplomatic instruments to change the country’s
position regarding the responsibility to reduce carbon emissions and assist
developing countries. It did not ratify the Paris Agreement for five years with
similar economic concerns. Since Turkey has not identified environmental issues
and climate change as primary risks or threats, its foreign policy strategy
does not include a specific and comprehensive ecological approach. However,
Turkey’s difficult position in climate negotiations due to the delayed
ratification process and the lack of coordination among the national
institutions working on environmental issues reveal that a new integrated
approach is needed to execute an active foreign policy regarding environmental
and climate change policies, develop cooperation between domestic and
international institutions, improve country’s prestige, and create a vision
foreseeing future risks and opportunities.
The climate crisis, one of the most challenging
problems in the global system, creates a vacuum at the intersection of
deepening ecological, social, economic, and political concerns. Climate
mitigation and adaptation policy achievement, which depends on the states’
decisions, commitments, and multipartite cooperation, are vital for coping with
climate change’s current and future impacts. Beyond participating in climate
negotiations, it is necessary to play an active role in them to improve
cooperation with different actors -states, corporations, and civil society-to
strengthen resilience, and influence other actors’ positions. The world is on
the threshold of a wide-ranging transformation process; climate change, new
technologies, renewable energy, Industry 4.0, and the green economy encourage
all actors, institutions, and practices to change. Therefore, an environmental
perspective integrated into the Turkish foreign policy would ensure an active
climate strategy. This strategy could also serve as a basis to follow and adapt
to the global transformation processes. This environmental perspective would no
doubt be an alternative to the economy-oriented policies of Turkey that favor
short-term economic interests and the sustainability of economic growth.
However, a new perspective prioritizing ecological sustainability and social
equity would improve Turkey’s environmental and climate policies and increase
its contribution to climate combat and global environmental protection.
Creating an ecological perspective for foreign policy
is not easy as this perspective prioritizes the interdependence between nature
and humans and aims to balance economic and social needs with ecological
sustainability and the rights of other species. However, an environmental
foreign policy, which is more mainstream than the former, ensures at least the
implementation of more conscious policies for environmental protection, climate
combat, and international cooperation. In this regard, Turkey’s environmental
foreign policy could be considered a realistic choice rather than a romantic
aspect. First, from an ecological perspective, Turkey could improve its
position in climate negotiations, participate in multilateral cooperation to
develop its mitigation and adaptation measures, and strengthen its bargaining
capacity to access new renewable technologies. Additionally, enhancing climate
cooperation could create a spill-over effect to establish political relations
for solving everyday problems. Hence, emissions reduction could be facilitated,
and the resilience of the states, societies, and vulnerable communities, in
particular, could be improved by preserving nature, building social justice,
and considering future generations’ rights.
Moreover, adopting an environmental perspective could
also be compatible with the central aspect of Turkish foreign policy. “Peace at
home, peace in the world”, the long-used motto of the Turkish foreign policy,
could also be referred to in connection with the climate crisis. As the impacts
of climate change have the potential to create different risks to the state,
people, economy, social integrity, and biodiversity in Turkey, the
environmental perspective might be the key to maintaining security in a
broadened way. Hence, Turkey’s domestic and foreign policy strategies could be
integrated to improve living conditions, the sustainability of ecosystems, and
a fair economic model.
Furthermore, climate change has been causing
interrelated problems threatening the political and socio-economic stability,
human life, and the ecosystem in the immediate neighborhood. Thus, crises
inflamed in these regions would possibly affect Turkey’s security and
stability. Therefore, if Turkish foreign policy comprises an environmental perspective
that aims to contribute to regional peace and play an active role in solving
humanitarian crises, Turkey might present more proactive approaches to future
challenges caused by climate change and other consequences of ecological
destruction. In this regard, it must be remembered that climate change has the
potential to galvanize intra and inter-state conflicts. As a result of an
offensive foreign policy prioritizing military power or a conflictual
perspective undermining compromise and reconciliation, international discords,
new migration flows, and intermingled humanitarian and environmental crises
could be aggravated and become more problematic to solve.
According to the climate projections based on
scientific data, even in optimistic scenarios, humanity will face worsening
economic, social, political, and environmental challenges by the second half of
the 21st century. In this sense, the future of the international system and
community will depend on the states’ preferences on whether they isolate
themselves from the international system to handle these complex risks or
create global horizontal cooperation between states and non-state actors.
Foreign policy strengthened with an environmental aspect could be the
cornerstone of this kind of cooperation. Therefore, if Turkey redesigns its
foreign policy with an ecological perspective, it could be easier to
holistically consider the impacts of environmental degradation and climate
change, humanitarian crises, and political conflicts. Hence, the resilience of
Turkey toward the future of intersected concerns could be strengthened. In an
evolving global system, Turkey could find a new place and redefine its position
for the sake of future generations only if it could understand the pertinence
of the environment for a life of dignity and sustainability.
Assoc. Prof. Senem Atvur, Akdeniz University
Senem Atvur graduated from Galatasaray University, Department of International Relations in 2004. In 2008, she received her master’s degree from Akdeniz University, Department of Public Administration; In 2012, she completed her doctorate in the same department with her thesis titled “The Consequences of Global-Local Social Movements Against Global Water Policies”. Between 2010-2011, at the Université de Poitiers in France for her doctoral thesis research; Between 2014 and 2015, she was at the Coventry University Center for Trust, Peace and Social Relations in England with a TÜBİTAK scholarship for post-doctoral research. She has been working as a faculty member at Akdeniz University International Relations Department since 2014. She received the title of Associate Professor in 2020. She works on environmental policies, climate change and water problems, ecological security, international and regional policies. In addition, she gives lectures such as International Relations Theories, International Environmental Problems, Introduction to International Relations.
To cite this work: Senem Atvur, “Environmental Perspective for Turkish Foreign Policy” Panorama, Online, 19 December 2022, https://www.uikpanorama.com/blog/2022/12/19/sa/
This article has been prepared with the support provided to the International Relations Council and the Global Academy by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Association Turkey Representative within the scope of the project titled ‘Foreign Policy for the 21st Century; Peaceful, Equitable, and Dynamic Turkey’.
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