Berlin, Germany – Governments meeting at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, including Türkiye as this year's UN climate talks president, must use the global disruption in fossil fuel supplies from the war on Iran as an accelerator for a just transition away from fossil fuels.
Addressing delegates in Berlin on Tuesday, Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change and COP1 President Designate, recognised the current crisis has shown that fossil fuels do not guarantee energy security.
Emel Türker Alpay, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Türkiye said:
"Minister Kurum is 100% correct: dependency on oil and gas is a structural liability and the time has come to phase them out. As COP president, it's mission critical for Türkiye to help operationalise and accelerate the implementation of the just transition away from fossil fuels at COP31.
"Fossil fuel dependence is destabilising the climate and exposing countries to volatile global markets, conflict and disruption. But a just transition is the opportunity to transform energy, transport, industrial and other systems so they are more secure and affordable.
"As COP31 host, Türkiye needs to lead from the front and demonstrate its commitment, starting with the cancellation of the coal-fired power plant project currently planned in Türkiye. The two additional units to Afşin-Elbistan A Coal Power Plant is the only new coal power plant project in Türkiye and one of five projects in the OECD. Cancellation of these two additional units would also demonstrate Türkiye's leadership in this process."
Earlier, Greenpeace Germany activists used kayaks to protest against the use of fossil fuels, displaying a floating banner on the water at the Westhafen Event & Convention Center in Berlin that said: 'BREAK FREE FROM FOSSIL FUELS'. The floating banner and surrounding kayaks formed the shape of the sun. The 17th Petersberg Climate Dialogue is an international ministerial meeting to help prepare for the annual UN climate talks.
Martin Kaiser, Executive Director at Greenpeace Germany said:
"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces a credibility gap at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue. While he has the opportunity to lead Europe toward a nature-compatible transition in energy and mobility, his government's domestic actions – such as backtracking on the combustion engine ban, blocking speed limits and maintaining Germany's reliance on fossil fuel heating – contradict these goals.
"Despite rising fuel prices and the urgent need to break free from dependencies on autocratic leaders, Germany continues to stall on renewables. To succeed, the summit must strengthen international alliances focused on the economic advantages of wind and solar, ensuring a definitive shift away from fossil fuels."
