On the morning of February 6th 2023, a devastating wave of earthquakes struck Turkey, causing the strongest tremors the country had felt in nearly a century. According to official numbers, the seismic waves caused the death of more than 50,000 people, and left 850,000 displaced in Türkiye.
While the losses are massive and millions are still suffering the consequences, discussions about the need to support the recovery and reconstruction of affected areas have kicked off.
With the fossil fuel crisis, the cost of living crisis as well as the climate crisis, CAN Europe and other civil society organisations in Turkey advocate for the key role that renewable energy should have in the forthcoming months and years, and urges relevant institutions in Turkey to ensure a sustainable and accountable reconstruction process that aligns with the country’s commitment to achieve a 35% absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, contributing in alleviating energy poverty and avoiding locking people’s homes in fossil fuels.
After the earthquakes, climate and environment NGOs in Turkey started to work on the concept of “green reconstruction” in line with climate goals across Turkey, with a priority on the earthquake region.
This briefing, which addresses the role of solar energy in emergency response and reconstruction/recovery, is the first output of this series of studies and includes key demands.
Policy brief: Solar Energy’s Vital Role in Turkey’s Earthquake Recovery and Reconstruction
