REC Projects

JUST4CARE

The “JUST4CARE (JUSTice for Communities Adaptation and REsilience)” Project focuses on advancing justice and equity in climate change adaptation strategies across Türkiye, Hungary, Spain, and Croatia. This initiative aims to address the vulnerabilities faced by disadvantaged communities, such as the elderly and socio-economically marginalized groups, by developing innovative solutions to create a fair and resilient society. With a total budget of €7.1 million, funded by the Horizon Europe Program, the project emphasizes the adoption of nature-based solutions and strengthening resilient infrastructure. Key activities include analyzing climate risks, fostering inclusive decision-making, and promoting inter-city collaboration to ensure the replicability of successful strategies. Led by a diverse consortium of 17 partners, including Çankaya Municipality and Uludağ University from Türkiye, the project highlights the importance of stakeholder participation in shaping equitable climate adaptation policies. By combining technical expertise and local insights, JUST4CARE aims to enhance climate resilience while supporting sustainable and inclusive growth for communities most affected by climate change.

Plastics Market Study

The “Plastics Market Study for Türkiye” Project aims to comprehensively assess the current state of the plastics sector in Türkiye, identifying growth drivers and barriers to scaling up circular economy approaches, particularly focusing on reducing, reusing, and recycling plastics. Through a combination of material flow analysis, value chain examination, and market and policy evaluation, the project seeks to develop actionable insights to support sustainable solutions and investments. This study highlights opportunities to treat used plastics as valuable resources rather than waste, addressing challenges such as plastic pollution and dependency on raw material imports. Conducted under the supervision of the World Bank and in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, the project is a collaborative effort involving REC İktisadi İşletmesi, ANKA, and the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. By fostering private-sector participation and prioritizing government actions, this initiative aims to enhance Türkiye’s role in achieving a sustainable and circular plastics economy.

BTR-1 Project

The “Preparation of Türkiye’s First Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1)” project aims to support Türkiye in meeting its national reporting obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. The project focuses on enhancing the technical and institutional capacities necessary to comply with the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) requirements. Conducted under the supervision of the Directorate of Climate Change and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the project emphasizes preparing comprehensive reports on Türkiye’s greenhouse gas inventories, climate adaptation policies, and financial support mechanisms. Covering the period from 2022 to 2024, Türkiye’s first BTR was successfully submitted at COP29, positioning the country as a global leader in climate transparency. The project continues to develop data-driven and participatory approaches, ensuring Türkiye’s alignment with international standards and enhancing its role in global climate action.

Balıkesir YİDEP

The Balıkesir Local Climate Change Action Plan (YİDEP) is an initiative led by the Resource, Environment, and Climate Association (REC) in collaboration with Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality. The project aims to enhance the city’s resilience to climate change by developing a comprehensive action plan focusing on both mitigation and adaptation strategies. Mitigation efforts include creating an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, projecting future emissions, and setting reduction targets. Adaptation measures involve analyzing climate projections to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities, followed by formulating actions to address these challenges. The project emphasizes stakeholder engagement, involving public institutions, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations through workshops and training sessions to build technical capacity and raise awareness. The culmination of these efforts will be the presentation of the finalized action plan at a closing conference dedicated to climate change.

Türkiye’s CCUS Potential

Türkiye’s Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Potential is a project led by the Resource, Environment, and Climate Association (REC). The initiative aims to evaluate Turkey’s potential for implementing CCUS technologies in alignment with the country’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, including a 41% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2053. The project focuses on identifying geological CO₂ storage sites, assessing the feasibility and economic aspects of CCUS technologies, and addressing sectors where decarbonization is particularly challenging, such as industrial processes. Stakeholder engagement is a key component, with workshops and awareness-raising activities designed to foster dialogue and collaboration. The project outputs are intended to support policymakers in integrating CCUS technologies into Turkey’s climate strategy.

Low Carbon Turkey

The Technical Assistance for the Development of an Analytically Based Strategy and Action for Low Carbon Development, launched in June 2017 and spanning three years, was a collaborative initiative led by the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, implemented by a consortium of Human Dynamics, REC, and AESA, and funded under the European Union’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). The project aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster climate-resilient development by aligning Turkey’s strategies with EU climate policies. Key components included assessing the National Climate Change Strategy, conducting regulatory and sectoral impact analyses, and evaluating the cost and emission reduction potential of actions in sectors such as buildings, waste, transportation, and agriculture. Additionally, the project developed greenhouse gas scenarios and mitigation actions, while building stakeholder capacity to support Turkey’s sustainable development goals. The findings serve as a foundation for integrating low-carbon development principles into national policies.

Denizli İDEP

The Denizli Climate Change Action Plan (İDEP) was developed by REC Türkiye in collaboration with Denizli Metropolitan Municipality as part of the “Empower Change for Climate Action” project, funded by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey. The plan aims to enhance Denizli’s resilience to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with national efforts to combat global climate change. Key components include the preparation of a greenhouse gas inventory to assess current emissions and future projections, the formulation of mitigation and adaptation strategies, and capacity-building activities for municipal staff. The project also emphasizes public awareness through educational initiatives and aims to facilitate access to international financial resources by adhering to globally recognized methodologies. With the completion of this project, Denizli positions itself as a leading municipality in climate change mitigation efforts within Turkey.

EU Awards for Environment

The European Business Awards for the Environment Turkey Program recognizes innovative and sustainable projects from companies of all sizes and sectors. Established in 1987, these prestigious awards highlight environmental performance and contributions to sustainable economic development. Participating companies must first succeed at the national level to qualify for the European competition, symbolizing a mark of excellence. Turkish companies, including notable names like Arçelik and Vestel, have made significant strides in “Innovation for Sustainability,” earning accolades that underscore their environmental leadership and innovative solutions in addressing global challenges.