“Revenues from the carbon market should be directed toward the green transition”

TÜRKÇİMENTO, the Turkish cement industry association, issued a statement following the publication last week of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) Regulation.

In the statement, TÜRKÇİMENTO CEO Volkan Bozay described the regulation’s entry into force as an important milestone in Türkiye’s transition to a low-carbon economy, saying that the cement industry views the system not as a compliance burden but as an opportunity to gain an advantage in global competition.

Bozay noted that trade rules and new development models around the world are being reshaped around low-carbon production, and said the system being introduced could play an important role in preparing Turkish industry for this new environment.

Volkan Bozay also stressed that a predictable, transparent and balanced transition process would be necessary for the system to be implemented successfully. He highlighted the importance of benchmarking criteria that take account of the actual conditions facing different sectors as the system moves from the pilot phase to full implementation, as well as a just-transition approach and effective investment support.

Emphasizing that the transformation of industry toward low-carbon production will require substantial long-term investment, Bozay said revenues generated by the carbon market should therefore be directed toward combating climate change, research and development, and green-transition investments. He added that only in this way can the cost of carbon become a sustainable source of financing for the transformation of industry.

In his statement, Bozay described the ETS as an important instrument for Türkiye’s transition in line with its 2053 net-zero emissions target. He said:

As the cement industry, we do not view the green transition as merely an obligation. We see it as a strategic opportunity to carry Türkiye’s productive capacity into the future and secure a stronger position in global competition. Our greatest expectation is that the ETS will take shape as a system that accelerates this transition, encourages investment and supports the competitiveness of our industry. Through cooperation among the public sector, private sector, academia and civil society, we can strengthen Türkiye’s low-carbon production capacity together. As TÜRKÇİMENTO, we will continue to contribute to the development of policies and mechanisms that support the transformation of our sector.