THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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As 2025 became one of the hottest years on record globally, the effects of the climate crisis were felt sharply in Türkiye as well.
A national temperature record was broken in Silopi district of Şırnak province; the majority of the country experienced “extreme drought,” and rainfall dropped to its lowest level in the last half-century. While climate indicators continue to sound the alarm, no binding steps have been taken on critical issues such as phasing out fossil fuels and combating deforestation.
The dynamics of the climate crisis we are in indicate that 2026 will also be a challenging year. If we can implement the necessary policies with determination, we still have a chance to shape the climate of the future. Otherwise, the events of 2025 may just be the beginning.
2025 became one of the hottest years on record globally and in Türkiye, the harshest reflections of this global trend were experienced. In the hottest July in the last 55 years, a national temperature record was also broken in Silopi district. The amount of rainfall across the country was at its lowest level in the last 52 years, and much of the country battled “extreme drought.”
Fires in 53 provinces resulted in approximately 80,000 hectares of land being burned, equivalent to about 15 times the size of Istanbul’s largest forest area. Moreover, this drought and lack of water were accompanied by intense rainfall that fell within a short period. Studies show that many climate indicators are sounding the alarm: The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere continues to rise, the areas covered by glaciers are decreasing while sea levels are rising faster and there are significant concerns that the critical threshold of 1.5°C, considered crucial for climate change, will be permanently exceeded.
Despite this urgency, global climate action is not strong enough: No binding decisions were made regarding phasing out fossil fuels and combating deforestation at the 30th Conference of the Parties held in Brazil.
The dynamics of the climate crisis we are in indicate that 2026 will also be a harsh year. Like previous years, 2026 is also a candidate to become the hottest year on record.
By Assoc. Dr. Doğukan Doğu Yavaşlı…
