Global Trends, Risks, and Opportunities
Climate Change
Climate change is one of the most important sustainability issues on a
global scale, and it was a major concern in 2022. Increased carbon dioxide
emissions have negative consequences such as global warming, extreme weather
events, diminishing water resources, and biodiversity loss.
This situation highlights the need to strengthen climate commitments
globally and take necessary steps towards sustainable development goals.
Türkiye has taken important steps in the fight against climate change and
developed a variety of policies and projects to comply with the Paris
Agreement goals. Increasing investments in renewable energy sources,
improving energy efficiency, and focusing on carbon-reduction technologies
will enable Türkiye to go further in the fight against climate change.
It is also important to adopt sustainable practices in sectors such as
agriculture, transportation, industry, and waste management.
The Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye (TKYB) is aware of the
effects of climate change on social welfare, economic development, and
financial stability of societies, and includes combating climate change
among its strategic objectives.
The Bank believes that the risks associated with the transition to a
low-carbon economy should be taken into account in business plans and
recognizes the role of financial institutions in this transition. It also
aims to meet societal needs and demands in accordance with the country’s
sustainable development priorities.
The Bank is taking important steps in the fight against climate change.
It plays an active role in the realization of environmental investments
as well as renewable energy and energy efficiency investments.
The Bank monitors greenhouse gas emissions resulting from its operational
activities and sets reduction targets. It voluntarily reports this
performance to the CDP’s Climate Change Program.
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The Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye aims to manage its
impacts in an environmentally and socially sensitive manner. It takes
necessary measures to reduce its resource consumption (energy, water,
paper, etc.) and waste generation. The bank has also obtained ISO 14001
Environmental Management System certification for its Headquarters
building, with the goal of reducing the environmental impact of its
operations.
TKYB organizes training programs to raise environmental awareness and
enables its personnel to submit suggestions for improving environmental
impacts. It assesses the compliance of all service, investment, and
project financing transactions with environmental and social procedures
and principles. It does not support or finance investments that may have
unacceptable impacts on the environment and society. It assesses the
environmental and social risks of the project for which it provides loans
and aims to eliminate their negative impacts. It monitors the environmental
performance of the investments for which it provides loans and their impact
on climate change.
The Bank also values raising public awareness about climate change. It
helps to raise public awareness about climate change by supporting
voluntary activities in collaboration with the public, non-governmental
organizations, and other stakeholders. It also works to raise awareness
of climate change through trainings and information-sharing sessions.
In response to the climate crisis, the Development and Investment Bank of
Türkiye aims to contribute to sustainable development goals, and encourages
compliance with international climate agreements. In this context, it is
committed to full compliance with the requirements of international climate
agreements such as the Paris Agreement. The Bank supports projects based on
climate-friendly technologies and promotes the use of renewable energy
sources to ensure that projects and financing are compatible with
these goals.
The Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye acts decisively in the
fight against the climate crisis and contributes to the establishment of a
sustainable future. It supports the welfare of society, economic
development, and financial stability through its efforts to combat climate
change. The Bank focuses on combating the climate crisis in line with its
sustainable development priorities.
Risks
- Increasing greenhouse gas emissions are leading to global warming and climate change. Climate change can increase the frequency and severity of natural disasters such as extreme weather events, drought, and the rise of sea levels.
- Climate change can have negative impacts on agriculture, water resources, ecosystems, and human health. This could lead to problems in food security and access to water resources.
- Climate change may cause instability in financial markets. Failure to properly assess climate risks and take appropriate measures can have negative impacts on the financial system.
Opportunities
- Increasing the use of renewable energy sources contributes to the fight against climate change by reducing carbon emissions. At the same time, while contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions, it also enables the creation of green jobs.
- The development and use of climate-friendly technologies pave the way for sustainable development. Innovative digital technologies can be used to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- International cooperation and agreements to combat climate change offer opportunities for joint action. It helps mobilize financial resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate funds and support mechanisms allow developing countries to strengthen their capacity to tackle climate change.
- Green finance is becoming increasingly important in combating climate change. Banks, financial institutions, and investors can play an active role in combating climate change by using green financing instruments such as green bonds, green loans, and sustainable investment funds to finance climate-compatible projects. The Bank seizes this opportunity by financing sustainable projects and green technologies.
Our efforts
- The Bank is actively working to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels as part of its effort to combat the global climate crisis. To stop the release of large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere from process emissions in other industries, it also backs carbon capture and storage technology projects. The CO2 gas produced by the combustion of fossil fuels for energy production is the focus of these projects, which seek to collect and eliminate the gas from the atmosphere. By doing so, we can mitigate the effects of climate change caused by the release of CO2 into the air. The Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye promotes the spread and increased use of carbon capture and storage technologies by providing financial support to projects utilizing these technologies.
- The Bank values education, training, capacity building, and awareness-raising activities on climate change mitigation. In this context, the Bank organizes programs to raise awareness and educate the public and its stakeholders on climate change. It also encourages information sharing to help society understand key concepts and solutions related to climate change. The Bank aims to raise the sensitivity of society and businesses through education, training, capacity building, and awareness-raising efforts to combat climate change.
- As part of the fight against the climate crisis, the Bank encourages the transition to coolants with lower Global Warming Potential (GWP). In this respect, precautions are taken to strengthen the industrial, commercial, and residential infrastructure in place. Some coolants used in conventional cooling systems consist of gases that are released into the atmosphere and may aggravate the greenhouse effect. These gases have a high global warming potential and contribute to climate change. Therefore, switching to alternative coolants with lower GWP is a crucial development. The Bank supports projects to strengthen industrial, commercial, and residential infrastructure to promote more environmentally friendly and sustainable cooling systems. These projects offer innovative solutions to increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize environmental impacts. The Bank provides financial support to transform existing infrastructure and promote the use of lower GWP refrigerants.
- The Bank aims to increase resource efficiency by focusing on methods that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It conducts research to ensure that resources allocated in order to improve existing supply chains are used efficiently and that savings are made. With these efforts, the Bank aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the efficient use of energy, water, and other resources. The Bank aims to reduce the environmental impact of its supply chains through measures that improve resource efficiency.
- The Bank aims to contribute to sustainable development goals by supporting compliance with international climate agreements. While emphasizing the importance of global cooperation in combating climate change, it is also committed to the requirements of international climate agreements. The Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye supports the objectives of international climate agreements such as the Paris Agreement and develops policies and projects in line with these objectives. In order to promote compliance with international climate agreements, the Bank ensures that projects and financing are compatible with these goals. In this context, the Bank supports measures such as projects based on climate-friendly technologies, promoting the use of renewable energy sources, and increasing energy efficiency. The Bank’s policies, projects, and activities that support compliance with international climate agreements contribute to the realization of sustainable development goals. Through these efforts, the Bank aims to contribute to the joint efforts of the international community in the fight against climate change and to help build a sustainable future on a global scale.