Experts in the fields of energy, sustainability and
environment stressed the need to remove regional barriers and strengthen
economic relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council States and Türkiye, in
order to achieve collective gains in the energy transition system.
They called for the acceleration of the transition
from fossil fuels to renewable sources, especially wind and solar energy. They
also stressed the need to accelerate the Middle Eastern efforts to achieve a
more sustainable future.
Trends Research and Advisory and the Atlantic
Council-Türkiye held a panel discussion, entitled "Prospects for
Cooperation in Energy Transition for a Sustainable Future: GCC, Türkiye, and
Regional Perspectives.” The discussion indicated the unprecedented spread of
technology has accelerated the adoption of renewable energy technologies.
The GCC countries and Türkiye occupy a prominent
position in the Global South in terms of prioritising renewables. The panel
discussion was held on Saturday, at the Knowledge Centre - Green Zone of
(COP28).
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of Trends Research
and Advisory, said in the opening remarks of the panel discussion that this
event acquires special importance because its discussions are based on the
ideas contained in the first report produced jointly by Trends and the Atlantic
Council – Türkiye, entitled Prospects for Cooperation in Energy Transition for
a Sustainable Future: GCC, Türkiye, and Regional Perspectives.”
Dr. Al-Ali stressed that the panel discussion explores
the prospects for partnership between the GCC countries and Türkiye in the
field of energy transition, accelerating the adoption of clean energy and
addressing climate change. He added that energy transition is the core of
international sustainability efforts.
Regional cooperation between Türkiye and the GCC
states in sustainability can be viewed in terms of two aspects; first to create
promising investment opportunities for the countries of the region, and enhance
opportunities for joint investments, and the second revolves around the
transfer of Knowledge and exchange of best practices in climate adaptation.
Defne Sadıklar Arslan, Senior Director, Atlantic
Council in Türkiye Türkiye Programmes Centre, Atlantic Council, said that
Türkiye and the GCC States not only share the challenges stemming from climate
change, but there are also many synergies in the energy sector, including
renewable energy, energy security, and diversification of the energy resources.
The panel discussion was moderated by Serhat S.
Cubukcuoglu, Senior Fellow, Department of Strategic Studies at Trends Research
and Advisory. Moza Al-Marzouqi, Researcher in the Department of Economic
Studies at Trends Research and Advisory, explained that the prospects for
sustainable future cooperation between the GCC countries and Türkiye are
focused on increasing reliance on renewable energy, offshore wind energy, solar
energy, nuclear energy, and clean hydrogen in agriculture, manufacturing and
transportation.
Al Marzouqi added that there are other opportunities
for GCC-Turkish cooperation in joint future projects to address climate change
issues, especially water and air pollution, sandstorms and floods. Moreover,
the two sides can pursue cooperation in the fields of transport, trade and
manufacturing, expansion of smart buildings, and paperless trade and
agriculture.
Eser Ozdil, Non-Resident Fellow, Atlantic Council,
stressed that traditional aspects related to the security and cost of energy
supply have been supported by the general privatisation of Türkiye's energy
sector.
In fact, between 2002 and 2016, Türkiye was able to
attract more than $60 billion of investment and private funds to the energy
sector. This indicates that Türkiye intends to add another 65 gigawatts of
renewable energy production, which requires massive investments ranging between
$40 and $45 billion.
Melek Ozturk, Principal, The Electric Vehicle (EV)
Exchange, pointed out that reducing emissions in the transport sector is a
major goal that Türkiye seeks to achieve, by setting emissions level targets
and developing the manufacture of electric cars. Indeed, given the high
proportion of renewable energy produced in Türkiye based on hydro, wind and
solar energy, Türkiye is likely to achieve its climate goals by 2030. She added
that for each renewable energy plant project Türkiye needs to build an energy
storage facility.
Karim Al Gendy, Associate Fellow, Environment and
Society Center -Chatham House said that the approach taken by both the GCC
States and Türkiye on the issue of energy transition is based on climate
commitments and economic motives. He added that future Turkish-GCC cooperation
could benefit from connecting the Turkish pipeline to the EU hydrogen market.
#SOURCE: http://tinyurl.com/4rty45dc
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