İSİB Announced 25 Different Targets Set for the Sector at the Launch of the Air Conditioning Sector Sustainability Action Plan

The Turkish HVAC&R industry Exporters' Association (İSİB) recently presented the Air Conditioning Industry Sustainability Action Plan to the public at an event. This plan, developed through discussions on climate crisis issues impacting the global future, outlines 25 strategic goals across six key areas: awareness, governance, financial sustainability, environmental sustainability, social sustainability, technology, and innovation. During the launch event on Wednesday, July 10 at the Foreign Trade Complex, Mehmet Şanal, Chairman of İSİB, and Mustafa Gültepe, President of the Turkish Exporters Assembly, delivered opening speeches. Emphasizing the importance of sustainability in the HVAC&R sector, Mehmet Şanal stated, "Our aim with this plan is to guide all companies in our sector towards sustainable practices and green transformation."

İSİB presented the outcomes of the Air Conditioning Sector Sustainability Action Plan to the press, industry representatives, and key figures from the business world. The plan was carefully crafted with 25 strategic objectives across six action areas. During the event, the focus was on discussing the strategic roadmap for sustainability in the sector. İSİB Chairman Mehmet Şanal highlighted the urgent need for a significant transformation in the Turkish HVAC&R sector to align with the global efforts to combat climate change.

"Our goal is to transform our sector by closely following the climate change process"

Mehmet Şanal, who delivered the opening speech at the launch of the Air Conditioning Sector Sustainability Action Plan, emphasized the urgent need to address the impact of climate change. He highlighted the increasing global challenges related to resource depletion and limited access, stressing the significant economic, political, and social consequences of climate change. The global focus on climate change and sustainability has been growing for nearly five decades, with recent initiatives like the Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal further propelling this movement. As part of İSİB, they have been actively informing the industry about these developments. However, recognizing the need for a more comprehensive approach, they are now aiming to analyze and embrace the responsibilities imposed by this new era. It is crucial for the sector to proactively adapt to these changes, seize emerging opportunities, and navigate this transformation in a strategic and practical manner. We are sharing the Air Conditioning Sector Sustainability Action Plan with the public for these reasons and evaluations."

"We envision the action plan guiding the entire sector."

Mehmet Şanal has outlined 25 strategic goals across six key areas: awareness, governance, financial sustainability, environmental sustainability, social sustainability, technology, and innovation. The primary focus of the action plan is to drive the sector towards sustainability and green transformation, urging companies to align their future plans accordingly and enhance international competitiveness. Currently, the sector is producing sustainable products meeting ecodesign criteria and European Energy Efficiency Standards in line with the EU's circular economy strategy. However, there is a need to transition the national economy and industry towards green, sustainable practices. Efforts will be intensified to raise awareness among sector representatives, keep them updated on technological advancements, and fully integrate these innovations. Moreover, initiatives will be expedited to adopt clean, smart technologies and promote a circular economy approach within the sector. At the same time, we will support the sector by promoting the use of renewable energy and choosing low-emission raw materials. We will also take institutional measures to address important issues like carbon footprint, water footprint, waste management, and the expansion of renewable energy projects. Additionally, we will engage in significant projects in these areas. Our goal is for our action plan to serve as a guiding document for the entire sector and our member companies, fostering change and sustainability among exporters."

"If there is no air conditioning industry, there is no fight against climate change."

TIM President Mustafa Gültepe stated that the rules of global trade are changing with the green reconciliation process. He mentioned that TIM has been prioritizing green production to be at the forefront of this transformation. The TIM Sustainability Action Plan was introduced three years ago. On June 6, a platform was launched to help companies calculate and report their carbon footprint for free. The goal is for around 150,000 exporter companies to utilize this platform, leading to an estimated savings of $500 million.

Gültepe emphasized the importance of producing for the world without depleting its resources. It is crucial to focus on creating a more sustainable world for future generations by using recyclable products that have minimal impact on the environment, particularly in production. The efforts, monitoring, reporting, and action plans conducted by our unions and TIM are highly valuable in this regard. The implementation of these action plans is essential for Turkey's competitiveness, especially to prevent a decline in export volume due to border carbon taxes. Failing to raise awareness on this issue will hinder our ability to sustain our industries in the future. TIM fully supports all member associations to ensure the continuation of these efforts through collaboration and shared goals.

Gültepe highlighted that the air conditioning industry is expanding. He mentioned that they anticipate a significant growth in the sector's exports in the latter part of the year. Gültepe emphasized the crucial role of the air conditioning sector in the fight against climate change, stating that without it, such efforts would be impossible. He stressed the critical leadership position held by the sector in this regard.