Türkiye’s First National Cooling Action Plan Comes into Effect
The Climate Change Directorate under the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has unveiled Türkiye’s first National Cooling Action Plan (NCAP). The plan sets out a comprehensive roadmap for transitioning Türkiye’s cooling sector toward greater sustainability, energy efficiency and climate resilience.
Türkiye has taken an important step toward reducing the impact of growing cooling demand on energy consumption and the climate. On July 23, 2026, the Climate Change Directorate under the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change officially presented Türkiye’s first National Cooling Action Plan (NCAP).
Developed through a three-year collaborative process led by the Climate Change Directorate and supported by the Cool Up programme, which aims to accelerate the transition toward sustainable cooling, the plan was prepared with contributions from public institutions, the private sector, financial institutions, academia and international stakeholders.
The National Cooling Action Plan provides a comprehensive framework for meeting Türkiye’s growing cooling demand while improving energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening the cooling sector’s resilience to climate change.
Türkiye’s Cooling Demand Assessed Through a 2050 Perspective
The launch of the National Cooling Action Plan addressed not only the policy framework needed to support Türkiye’s transition to sustainable cooling, but also projected cooling demand and emissions scenarios through 2050. Priority actions for implementing the plan and strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors were also among the key topics discussed.
Mehrali Ecer, Vice President of the Climate Change Directorate, together with national and international stakeholders, highlighted the importance of sustainable cooling in helping Türkiye achieve its climate targets, improve energy efficiency and strengthen resilience to rising temperatures.
Why Is Sustainable Cooling Important?
The National Cooling Action Plan does not approach cooling solely in the context of air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. Instead, it adopts a holistic perspective that considers the economic, environmental and social impacts of sustainable cooling solutions.
Within this framework, sustainable cooling is expected to contribute to:
• protecting human health during heatwaves,
• safeguarding food and pharmaceutical cold chains,
• improving energy efficiency,
• reducing pressure on electricity grids, and
• supporting economic competitiveness.
Strategic Importance for Türkiye’s HVAC&R Sector
The National Cooling Action Plan is also significant in view of Türkiye’s strong manufacturing base for air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Türkiye reportedly exports approximately USD 310 million worth of air-conditioning equipment annually to the European Union market.
Türkiye’s First National Cooling Action Plan Comes into Effect
As one of the important manufacturing countries in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector, Türkiye’s transition toward more sustainable, energy-efficient and climate-resilient technologies will have implications not only for the domestic market but also for its export markets.
This transformation is expected to create new opportunities for the wider adoption of energy-efficient equipment, the development of new technologies, the enhancement of workforce skills and the acceleration of investment in sustainable cooling solutions.
Next Step: Moving from Planning to Implementation
With the launch of the National Cooling Action Plan, the process is now moving into the implementation phase. Continued coordination between the public and private sectors, increased investment and ongoing knowledge-sharing among stakeholders will be important in translating the strategy into concrete action.
The plan also establishes a foundation for capacity building, innovation, workforce development and market transformation to accelerate the adoption of sustainable cooling solutions across Türkiye.
Prepared by the Climate Change Directorate together with its stakeholders, the National Cooling Action Plan represents a comprehensive roadmap for managing Türkiye’s growing cooling needs in alignment with its energy-efficiency and climate objectives.
