Pursuing Sustainable Development Goals
Renewable Energy Potential of Türki̇ye and Policy Recommendations to Improve Energy Efficiency
Damla ÖzekanDevelopment does not only depend on the quantitative increase of the goods and services produced but also defines a development that should have social aspects and environmental protection bases and results, which means sustainable development. The widespread use of “sustainable development” as a technical concept started with the adoption of the “Our Common Future” Report published by the World Commission on Environmental Development in 1987 by the United Nations (UN). In the UN General Assembly convened in September 2000, it was accepted that the strengthening of the principles of human dignity, equality, and well-being at the global level is the common responsibility of the world’s societies, and the Millennium Declaration was announced in consensus on ensuring improvement in economic, environmental and social conditions in the world by 2015. Eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were determined to implement these principles. At the UN’s Sustainable Development Summit convened in September 2015, the 15-year performance of the MDGs adopted in 2000 was evaluated on a global scale, and it was announced that the performance put forward in terms of achieving these goals is far from bringing the expected solutions to the economic, social and environmental problems our world is facing. At the summit, it was emphasized that in light of the experiences gained from the sustainable development process initiated with the MDGs, there is a necessity to determine inclusive sustainable development goals that would bring solutions to the current problems of our world. In this direction, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030), which were accepted with the signatures of 193 member countries, including Türkiye, consist of 17 basic objectives and 169 related targets. This new global agenda envisages shaping the development plans and policies of countries with an understanding that emphasizes the principle of human rights for all by 2030. The concept of sustainable development entered Türkiye’s agenda with the 1992 Rio Conference and was included in the 6th Five-Year Development Plan, and this concept has continued to maintain its importance until today. In terms of Türkiye’s reserves and capacity compared to non-renewable energy sources, the potential for renewable energy sources is high. In this study, within the scope of Affordable and Clean Energy, which is the 7th Goal of the SDGs; firstly, a general analysis of Türkiye’s renewable energy resources has been made, and the current situation of renewable energy in terms of both potential and production has been revealed mostly focusing on biomass, solar and wind energy. Then, the development of affordable and clean energy with respect to time has been evaluated, and policy proposals for increasing energy efficiency have been discussed.
