Climate Law No. 7552

Climate Law No. 7552 was adopted on 2 July 2025 and entered into force on publication in the Official Gazette dated 9 July 2025, No. 32951. Its purpose is to combat climate change in line with the green growth vision and the net zero emissions target (Article 1). It covers the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, climate change adaptation, planning and implementation instruments, revenues, and permits and inspection.

Who is covered by the Climate Law?

Public institutions and organisations and natural and legal persons must comply in good time with the measures and regulations adopted under the Law and put them into practice (Article 3). The Climate Change Presidency sits at the centre of the institutional structure; it is authorised to regulate market-based carbon pricing mechanisms and to request information and documents directly (Article 4).

The enterprises that will fall within the Emissions Trading System are determined by regulation. The Carbon Market Board, chaired by the Minister, approves the national allocation plan and decides on the distribution of free allowances (Article 10).

Which instruments does the Law introduce?

The main instruments are as follows:

• Emissions Trading System (ETS): established by the Presidency, with allowances distributed and the market operated by Enerji Piyasaları İşletme A.Ş. (Article 9). A pilot period is run before the system is fully implemented (Provisional Article 1).
• Greenhouse gas emission permit: those carrying out activities that cause direct emissions within the ETS must obtain a permit from the Presidency; enterprises within scope must obtain it within three years of the Law’s entry into force (Article 9 and Provisional Article 2).
• Carbon credits and offsetting: part of the allowance obligation may be met with carbon credits, and the Presidency sets up a national carbon crediting system (Article 11).
• A Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism may be established, with its rules set by the Ministry of Trade (Article 8). The Presidency also sets up and runs the Turkish Green Taxonomy.

What changes at local level?

A Provincial Climate Change Coordination Board, chaired by the governor, is established in every province, with its secretariat run by the Ministry’s provincial organisation. Local climate change action plans must be prepared by 31 December 2027 at the latest (Article 7 and Provisional Article 2). By the same date the preparation obligations concerning legislation and planning instruments under Articles 5 and 6 must be met; the President may extend this period by up to one year.

How does it connect with destruction, recycling and zero waste?

Institutions and organisations must apply reduction measures consistently with a circular economy approach and must establish, implement and monitor a zero waste system (Article 5). The Law also provides that the Ministry will carry out work on product reuse, on using waste as a by-product or alternative raw material, and on setting mandatory use rates for products obtained through recycling (Article 8).

For businesses that provide or use recycling and waste management services, these provisions mean that detailed obligations will be set by regulations still to come.

What should be checked in practice?

The Law’s administrative sanctions are brought together in a separate article (Article 14); the amounts and details are covered on the “Penalties Under Climate Law No. 7552” page. Unless otherwise stated, the Presidency determines the procedures for applying the Law (Article 17), so the publication of regulations and communiqués should be followed.

Where the Law is silent, the relevant provisions of Environmental Law No. 2872 apply to the extent they are compatible (Article 17).