AGP Executive Report

Renewables Deal: Turkey and Saudi Arabia are set to expand renewable energy cooperation by another 3,000 MW, bringing the planned total to 5,000 MW, with the new agreement expected to be signed around COP talks in Antalya. Marine Protection Clash: Turkey’s declaration of two “national marine parks” in the Aegean and Mediterranean has triggered a Greek backlash, with Athens saying the move is illegal and has no legal effect beyond territorial waters. Earthquake Resilience: Turkey is renewing earthquake resilience efforts, with reports saying 1 million housing units are being updated. Biodiversity & Wildlife: Turkey is also pushing conservation and research, including a project to protect WWI wrecks in the Dardanelles and work on local wildlife such as gray marmots in a nature reserve. Heat Stress on Farms: Europe’s processing tomato sector is warning that persistent heatwaves are forcing early ripening and could cut late-season volumes, with Turkey mentioned as part of the wider regional picture. Energy Transition Finance: BBVA says it has reached 560 million euros in committed climate funds to speed up decarbonization projects.

Marine Protection Clash: Türkiye has declared two new marine national parks in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean—Fethiye-Kaş and North Aegean—sparking Greece’s pushback that the zones are illegal beyond Turkish jurisdiction and could affect Greek rights. Climate Policy Pressure: In Antalya, agricultural land near the COP31 EXPO site is being paved into a parking lot for delegates, drawing criticism from agricultural engineers who warn that soil protection can’t be sidelined in climate talks. Renewables Push: Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are targeting 5,000 MW in renewable energy cooperation, with Ankara also signaling broader regional energy collaboration. Biodiversity Research: Turkey is conducting research on gray marmots in the Naryn Nature Reserve, adding to ongoing efforts to monitor and protect local wildlife. Disaster Risk Finance: A warning says 42% of Turkish homes still lack earthquake insurance decades after the 1999 Marmara disaster, highlighting a major resilience gap. Maritime Tech: Türkiye’s Marlin USV has gained smart mine-laying capability via domestically developed mines, marking a new operational milestone for unmanned naval missions.

Earthquake Risk: Turkey’s Natural Disaster Insurance Institution (DASK) says about 42% of homes still lack compulsory earthquake insurance, even 27 years after the 17 August 1999 Marmara quake—coverage is lowest in the Black Sea region at 45%. Climate & Wildfire Pressure: Turkey is stepping up probes into forest fires, with authorities identifying 43 suspects, as Europe continues to battle extreme heat-driven blazes. Marine Protection Clash: Greece rejects Turkey’s newly declared “national marine parks” in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean, saying the zones extend into international waters and violate the Law of the Sea. Renewables Push: Turkey has outlined a timeframe for its first offshore wind tender (early 2027) and plans to expand renewable cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Plastic Pollution: A report flags a microplastic crisis gripping Turkey’s tourist coasts amid record plastic imports. Energy Security: Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains halted amid the Iran standoff, keeping regional energy risks in focus.

Offshore Wind Roadmap: Turkey says it will announce and run its first offshore wind tender in Q1 2027, targeting 1GW in the first YEKA auction and aiming for 5GW by 2035. Marine Protection & Tensions: Two new “national marine parks” were declared in the Aegean—one near Muğla–Antalya and another near Tekirdağ–Çanakkale—raising fresh friction with Greece over biodiversity zones. Wildfire Crackdown: Justice Minister Akın Gürlek reports investigations into 64 forest fires since June 1 across 22 provinces, with 43 suspects identified and 11 arrested. Climate Youth Outreach: Kızılay’s Heybeliada camp trained 75 students as “climate ambassadors,” mixing climate, recycling and waste management with hands-on farming. Energy Cooperation: Turkey and Saudi Arabia will expand renewable cooperation by adding 3,000MW for a total 5,000MW ahead of COP31 in Antalya. Aegean Heat Reality: A new report on extreme heat highlights how “summer-like” conditions are reshaping seasons and raising risks worldwide. Hydrogen R&D: Researchers describe a “stimulated geologic hydrogen” approach that could generate clean hydrogen by fracturing iron-rich rock and injecting water.

Climate & Water Risk: A German-Turkish team has carried out the first survey of Mount Ararat’s shrinking glacier, warning that global warming is accelerating ice loss and could erase a rare record of past climate and human activity. Urban Resilience: Istanbul is demolishing nearly 10,000 unsafe buildings each year under earthquake-risk renewal, with hundreds of thousands of units flagged as high-collapse danger and subsidies pushing rapid redevelopment. Energy & Security Spillover: A drone debris incident on Turkey’s Black Sea coast (Düzce) is under investigation after fragments were found in a garden, echoing earlier findings of drone and missile components. Renewables Push: Türkiye is moving toward offshore wind with its first offshore tender planned for early 2027, aiming to strengthen renewable capacity. COP31 Prep: Türkiye’s COP31 advisory board has held its first meeting ahead of the Antalya climate summit, signaling a push to shape climate finance and mountain-focused priorities. Regional Tensions: Iran rejected Trump’s claim that the Strait of Hormuz could become U.S. territory, warning the waterway remains under Iranian control—an energy chokepoint with direct climate and trade implications. Disaster Watch: A 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores region, killing at least 38 and triggering landslides, with tsunami warnings later lifted.

Urban Resilience in Earthquake Country: Istanbul is demolishing nearly 10,000 unsafe buildings a year under urban renewal, with hundreds of thousands of units flagged as high-risk near major fault lines. Climate Archives Under Threat: A German-Turkish team has surveyed Mount Ararat’s shrinking glacier for the first time, warning that global warming is erasing a rare record of past climate and human activity. Biodiversity & Nature Access: Türkiye’s zero-waste push is expanding into sports and marine conservation, while a separate push for outdoor engagement highlights how public access and education can boost nature stewardship. Border Security Update: Türkiye’s envoy says key security threats along the Syria border have “disappeared” since the new administration took office, pointing to tighter cooperation against smuggling, drugs, migration and terrorism. Maritime Cooperation: Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye took part in a Black Sea 2026 exercise to improve readiness for complex maritime incidents, including vessel threats and search-and-rescue drills. Regional Security Context: The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan continues to draw scrutiny as a new security bloc forms across West Asia.

Heat & Water Crisis: A new report warns Europe’s wildfire season is really a “weakening water cycle” story—drought dries forests, cuts river flows, strains hydropower and drinking water, and turns fire into a symptom of failing watershed resilience. Climate Impacts in Türkiye: In Kurdistan, drought is described as escalating into a hydrological crisis tied to dam policies and groundwater overuse, leaving farmland idle and villages abandoned. Invasive Species Watch: Czech conservationists are racing to eradicate self-cloning marbled crayfish before they spread, using EU rapid-response funding. Maritime Cooperation: Bulgaria joined Black Sea 2026 in Romania with Romania and Türkiye, practicing vessel threat control and search-and-rescue to strengthen regional maritime border security. Wildfire Context: Multiple updates highlight Europe battling fresh wildfire waves as heat dries forests and stretches firefighting capacity. Local Environment & Wildlife: A Turkish activist faces terrorism-related accusations over an anti-poverty protest banner that also criticized environmental destruction.

Wildfire & water crisis: A new analysis argues Europe’s fire season isn’t just a “forestry” problem—hydrological drought is drying forests, shrinking rivers, stressing hydropower and drinking water, and weakening watersheds that act like natural water infrastructure. Heatwave pressure in Europe: AFP reports another wave of extreme temperatures and fresh wildfires across France, Germany, Spain and Italy, with drought declared in parts of the UK—climate change is amplifying the extremes. Turkey’s zero-waste push in sports: The Turkish Olympic Committee and the Zero Waste Foundation signed a cooperation protocol to spread zero-waste practices across the Olympic movement and sports community, tying sustainability messaging to sport’s reach. Greening initiative in Kuwait: Kuwait and Türkiye launched a greening effort at the Kuwait–Türkiye Friendship Park, planting trees and promoting circular-economy habits like reuse and recycled materials. Microplastics warning: A separate report flags a microplastic crisis along Türkiye’s Mediterranean tourist coasts, citing record plastic imports. Energy storage for clean power: Noon Energy and Sabanci Renewables plan up to 1GW of co-located long-duration storage and renewables for data centers, with early deployments expected in 2027.

Climate & Heat: Europe is sweltering under a fresh extreme-heat wave, with forecasts of 135m+ people facing temperatures above 35°C and wildfires and drought adding pressure across the region. Security & Energy Spillover: A Saudi-led 14-state maritime coalition is forming to protect Red Sea shipping as Houthis step up attacks, including a reported drone strike on a Saudi Aramco refinery in Jizan—raising risks for energy infrastructure and regional stability that can quickly affect Turkey’s wider environment and air/sea conditions. Turkey’s Defence Pact (Makkah): Turkey says the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement will set up senior political-military mechanisms, joint exercises, and deeper defence industry cooperation with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, framed as “defensive” and including coordination on unmanned systems and air defence. Cyber & Infrastructure Risk: VMware vCenter’s critical flaw is being exploited globally within days of disclosure, with Turkey among the most targeted—an indirect threat to services that support environmental monitoring and disaster response. Urban Greening: Kuwait and Turkey launched a greening initiative at the Kuwaiti-Turkish Friendship Park, focusing on community tree planting, volunteerism, and circular-economy reuse of materials. Air Travel Growth: Turkey’s airports served nearly 138.8m passengers in Jan–July 2026, underscoring rising transport pressure on emissions and local air quality.

Microplastics in the Mediterranean: Turkish researchers warn a microplastic crisis is spreading along Türkiye’s southern coast, with concentrations in Alanya reported at 2–65 times prior scientific levels, linked to record plastic waste imports (over 80,000 tons/month in April). Green Library Win: Istanbul’s Rami Library won top honors at the 2026 Green Library Awards for turning a 19th-century barracks into a climate-resilient urban commons, adding major green space around the site. Renewables Push: Türkiye is preparing its first offshore wind tender for early 2027, as the country accelerates renewable energy planning. Mecca Defense Pact (Turkey-Saudi-Pakistan): Turkey’s Defence Ministry says the Aug. 7 “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement” is defensive, not a NATO rival, and will set up senior minister mechanisms, joint exercises, and deeper defense industry cooperation. Regional Security Spillover: A Saudi Aramco refinery blaze in Jizan, tied to Houthi claims of a drone strike, underscores how Red Sea tensions could ripple into Gulf energy security. Gaza Health Crisis: Doctors report Gaza cancer patients are dying at 2–3 times the pre-war rate as evacuation routes and local oncology capacity collapse.

Regional Security & Energy Routes: Turkish President Erdoğan said the Saudi-Pakistan-Türkiye “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement” is not aimed at any country, stressing “peace, stability, solidarity” and collective deterrence after the Aug. 7 signing. Red Sea Oil Risk: A Saudi Aramco refinery blaze in Jizan, blamed on a Houthi drone strike, is being framed as a new escalation that could test the new Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi security alignment and keep pressure on shipping and fuel flows. Turkey’s Climate Diplomacy: Türkiye’s COP31 Advisory Board held its first meeting ahead of the Antalya summit, with officials pushing climate justice and mountain priorities to turn pledges into investable plans. Renewables: Türkiye is preparing its first offshore wind tender in Q1 2027 as it seeks to boost renewable capacity. Local Environment: Istanbul’s Rami Library won a global award for green transformation, highlighting practical sustainability upgrades in public buildings. Biodiversity/Conservation: A zero-waste foundation initiative targets plastic pollution in southern Türkiye, while a marine conservation drive is also in the spotlight. Weather & Hazards: Israel is bracing for rare August rain and possible flooding linked to broader climate pattern shifts.

Offshore Wind Push: Türkiye approved plans for its first offshore wind tender, with a draft YEKA specification out now and an auction targeted for Q1 2027; the goal is 5 GW by 2035, with candidate zones including the Saros Gulf and areas off Gökçeada, Bozcaada and Edremit. Mining & Forest Loss: İstanbul’s Çatalca district got approval to expand a quartzite/quartz sand mine, with the impact assessment projecting 24,536 trees affected and a near-tripling of annual output to 1.2 million tons. Heat & Risk: Europe is bracing for another major heatwave, with forecasts of temperatures above 35C for tens of millions, underscoring how global warming is driving more frequent, longer extremes. Energy Under Fire Abroad: Drone strikes in Libya hit the Zawiya power grid, burning a substation and triggering outages—another reminder of how fragile energy infrastructure is in conflict zones. Local Green Win: Istanbul’s Rami Library reportedly won a global award for green transformation, highlighting practical sustainability efforts in the city. Climate Governance: Türkiye’s COP31 advisory board held its first meeting ahead of the Antalya summit, aiming to turn climate promises into investable action.

COP31 Prep in Antalya: Türkiye’s COP31 Advisory Board held its first online meeting, with Environment Minister Murat Kurum stressing “implementation, not rhetoric,” and outlining a 10-point action agenda ahead of COP31 on Nov. 9–20. Climate Delivery Challenge: A separate analysis argues Türkiye must turn climate promises into bankable projects—clear permitting, grid access, monitoring, and predictable policy—so investors can fund renewables and resilience. Marine Conservation Push: Türkiye’s “zero waste” vision is expanding with a marine conservation drive, aiming to cut waste impacts on coasts and ecosystems. Microplastics Alert: New reporting says microplastic levels have leveled off at Alanya’s Mediterranean coast but remain extremely high—reported at 65 times a prior benchmark—keeping pressure on pollution controls. Wildfire Response: Authorities report nine arrests tied to summer forest fires across Türkiye, as the country grapples with repeated fire seasons. Health Cooperation: Türkiye and Pakistan agreed to strengthen technical cooperation in health, including vaccine manufacturing, healthcare technology, regulation, and capacity building. PKK Reintegration Law: Turkish MPs backed a legal framework for disarmament and reintegration of lower-ranking PKK members, a major political step with complex implementation ahead.

Marine Conservation Push: Türkiye’s Zero Waste vision is getting a marine boost, with officials visiting Tavşan Island near Istanbul to review science-led restoration and monitoring—and plans to replicate the model at Üç Adalar off Antalya ahead of COP31. Regional Security Spillover: A Saudi Aramco refinery blaze in Jizan, after Houthis claimed a precision drone strike, is raising fears of wider disruption across Red Sea and Gulf energy routes—right after the new Saudi-Türkiye-Pakistan “Mecca” defense pact. Nuclear Oversight in Syria: The IAEA is set to visit Syria to address nuclear material left from the Assad era, tied to Site 99 and efforts to prevent escalation involving Israel, Syria and possibly Turkey. Disaster Response Watch: Colombia’s deadly 7.4 earthquake has killed 160+ people, with rescue teams still searching collapsed buildings for survivors. Climate & Health Angle: A report highlights how extreme heat and severe weather are worsening conditions for Turkey’s seasonal agricultural workers, with discrimination and basic services gaps persisting on the ground.

Microplastics Alert: A preliminary scientific assessment in Alanya’s Mediterranean coast found microplastic levels up to 65 times higher than prior reported peaks, with concentrations reaching 34.05 million particles per sq km near Damlataş—raising concerns about plastic waste imports and local recycling pressure. Renewables Push: Türkiye’s first offshore wind YEKA tender could reshape the power mix, with a draft 1 GW auction spec and candidate zones including Saros Bay, Gökçeada, Bozcaada and Edremit—though forecasts suggest only about 1.3 GW by 2035. Climate Disaster Context: A report on Europe’s extreme summer links heat, drought and wildfires to climate change, warning that disaster response is crowding out climate action. Peace Process at Home: Türkiye’s parliament approved a legal framework for PKK disarmament and reintegration, aiming to enable lower-ranking members to return under conditions, while excluding top leadership. Regional Security Shock: The “Mecca” joint defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan is being tested immediately after a reported Houthi drone strike and refinery blaze in Jizan—fueling fears of wider escalation. People & Borders: In Syria, the first mass return of displaced Syrian Kurds to Ras Al Ain was marred by attacks on the convoy, complicating efforts to stabilize the region. Turkey–Armenia Exchange: The Hrant Dink Foundation opened applications for a Turkey–Armenia long-term fellowship program, prioritizing environment and climate change among other fields for 2027 placements.

Wildfire Response: Turkey says nine suspects were arrested and 14 others put under judicial control over 52 forest fires since June 1, with prosecutors working to identify arson and negligence cases. Renewables Push: GlobalData says Turkey’s first offshore wind tender under the YEKA scheme could reshape the power mix, though it expects offshore capacity to lag the government’s 5GW-by-2035 goal. Nature & Heritage: A report highlights Türkiye’s Uludağ “Lakes Region,” where seven glacier-fed alpine lakes are framed as geological heritage worth protecting. Climate Impacts on Travel: Research notes wildfires and extreme heat are forcing many UK holidaymakers to change plans, with Turkey among affected destinations. Water & Ecosystems: A separate item flags seven beavers released in a wetland habitat restoration effort, part of the first phase of rebuilding local biodiversity. Regional Security (Context): Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye reaffirm the “Makkah” joint defence pact as defensive, while Iran calls it a shift in regional perceptions—an angle that indirectly shapes regional risk for shipping and energy routes.