ATO’s “Recent Developments in the World of Sustainability” Seminar

Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) organized a seminar on “Recent Developments in the World of Sustainability” to prepare its members for the green transformation and sustainable era in trade.

The seminar, which was held in the ATO Council Hall, was attended by chamber members with great participation, addressing topics such as the Green Deal, border carbon regulation, sustainability reporting standards, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues of companies. In the opening of the seminar organized with the contributions of KPMG Audit Tax and Consultancy Services, ATO President Gürsel Baran stated that although the industrialization process brought benefits, it also brought new problems for humanity, saying, “One of the main problems faced by the entire world today is the climate crisis. The increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has led to global warming. The ongoing process affects every area from agriculture to industry, tourism to trade, and education to health. We have reached a critical threshold as humanity.”

Baran noted that the countries signing the Paris Climate Agreement have entered a specific transformation process to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and explained that the European Union has implemented the “Green Deal” to maintain its economic development while combating climate change. He stated that the transition period initiated by the EU’s Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism on October 1, 2023, is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and that it is preparing to be implemented definitively from January 1, 2026. Baran expressed that positioning the future of EU trade as sustainability and green transformation closely affects Turkey and companies trading with the EU. He said, “The European Union holds a share of over 40% in Turkey’s total exports. Last year, Turkey reached a trade volume of 206.8 billion euros with the European Union, becoming the fifth largest trading partner of the Union. Of the 95.5 billion euros of trade we conducted with the EU, 111.3 billion euros consisted of imports from the EU. The five sectors (iron-steel, cement, aluminum, fertilizer, electricity, and hydrogen) determined under the Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism by the EU, along with the textile and ready-made clothing sectors, are predicted to be the sectors most affected by the green transformation process. Our businesses will need to implement measures to decarbonize their production processes while also being required to report in accordance with the Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism starting from the beginning of 2026. Calculating emission data for products subject to the Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism and reporting them involves separate procedures. As the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, we aim to prepare our members for the changes and transformations occurring in global trade, increase their competitiveness, and thus gain a larger share of the world economy.”

“Transformation has become a necessity”

Orhan Aydın, Chairman of the OSTİM Organized Industrial Zone Management Board, stated that the concept of sustainability has been on the agenda in recent years, indicating that developed and industrialized countries have created a structure that disrupts climate and the order of the world through industrial production. Aydın said, “The current carbon and environmental problems we are experiencing are fundamentally rooted in industrialization policies.”

Providing information about the studies they have conducted in this field, Aydın explained that they designed their technopark 15 years ago as an ecological technopark and named it EKOPARK. He expressed that they want to set an example for other businesses with their initiatives, stating that the studies on green transformation and sustainability, which were optional in previous years, have now become a necessity due to the legal and financial responsibilities they entail.

Tufan Gökçer, an Expert at the Sustainability Department of the Public Oversight Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority (KGK), also stated in his speech that sustainability reporting has entered our lives alongside financial reporting. Gökçer highlighted the importance of meetings aimed at raising awareness and providing information in this area.

Engin Ölmez, Partner and Ankara Leader of KPMG Audit Tax and Consultancy Services, provided detailed preliminary information about the seminar and speakers.

After the opening speeches, plaques were presented to the speakers. The program continued with presentations by Sertuğ Özkan, KPMG ESG Risk Management and Corporate Risk Management Expert, and Zahide Demir, KPMG Customs and Foreign Trade Services Director.