In today’s rapidly urbanizing world, the demand for natural resources and energy is steadily increasing alongside technological advancements. Environmental pollution, the escalating impacts of climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events highlight the critical need to consider the entire built environment throughout a building’s entire life cycle. Planning and creating building stock comprehensively, along with meeting energy needs through renewable sources instead of fossil fuels, is required for the building and construction sector to achieve desired sustainability goals. As such, new buildings must be designed and constructed with a holistic approach that is in harmony with nature and considers buildings’ entire life cycles: from site selection and material choices, construction, operation to demolition. Buildings should also be climate and region-specific, utilizing natural resources like water at minimal levels and meeting energy needs through on-site and off-site renewable energy sources.

Turkey’s building sector — responsible for approximately 32% of the country’s total energy consumption and 30% of greenhouse gas emissions — is an important component to achieve the 2053 net-zero emission and green development targets.

To support the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change’s innovative efforts within the building sector, the Ministry took part as the main beneficiary of the Zero Carbon Building Accelerator (ZCBA), a flagship of World Resources Institute (WRI), supported by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility. Within the scope of the project, short-, medium- and long-term strategies were developed to decarbonize Turkey’s building sector and the Türkiye Building Sector Decarbonization Roadmap was prepared.

About the Roadmap

Turkey's Building Sector Decarbonization Roadmap was meticulously developed through a transparent, participatory process within the framework of the ZCBA project. It aims to guide the building and construction sector by offering comprehensive, pioneering and sustainable solutions to combat climate change. The Roadmap will directly benefit all building sector stakeholders and the greater public by improving energy efficiency in buildings, leading to lower energy bills and healthier living conditions through better indoor air quality and the use of sustainable materials. It will also create job opportunities in construction, engineering and renewable energy sectors, enhancing economic growth and resilience against climate change impacts. By promoting zero carbon buildings (ZCB) and climate-resilient designs, the Roadmap ensures safer, more comfortable living spaces.

The Roadmap will be implemented immediately; it targets government bodies, construction industries and energy providers, guiding central and local policies, as well as practices towards sustainability. Expected outcomes include a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, energy savings and widespread adoption of renewable energy systems in buildings, ensuring the green transition in the building sector, as well as fostering a sustainable and resilient future for Turkey.

The Roadmap identifies potential actions to transition to ZCBs throughout buildings’ entire life cycles by specifying possible steps to reduce emissions associated with embodied carbon and operational carbon. Within the scope of this Roadmap, national decarbonization strategies are evaluated in six main sections: Building Construction and Demolition, Building Materials, Existing and New Buildings, Renewable Energy, Climate Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change, and Financing and Gender Equality.

Turkey's Building Sector Decarbonization Roadmap provides a clear and actionable path towards a sustainable future. By addressing key areas, the Roadmap not only targets significant reductions in carbon emissions but also promotes resilience and economic growth. This pioneering initiative underscores Turkey's commitment to combating climate change and achieving its 2053 net-zero emission targets, ultimately benefiting both the environment and the well-being of its people.

To learn more, explore the full Roadmap in English or Turkish.