Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 5 hrs ago
Fossil fuel air pollution costs Turkey about $55 billion a year
A study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and the Clean Air Rights Platform says fossil fuels cause 52% of Turkey’s PM2.5 air pollution.
The health effects cost Turkey about $55 billion a year, equal to 4.1% of its 2024 GDP.
The study links the pollution to around 26,500 deaths each year in Turkey, as well as millions of missed workdays.
Coal supplies 35% of Turkey’s electricity, while fossil fuels account for about 60% of energy used by industry.
Emissions from Turkey also cross borders, contributing to thousands of deaths and billions of dollars in losses in five nearby countries.
The findings come as Turkey prepares to host the COP31 climate summit in November, and the study’s authors say reducing fossil fuel dependence could protect health and economic wellbeing.
They call for a plan to move away from fossil fuels, including no new coal plants and a fair plan to close existing ones.
A report says fossil fuel-related air pollution costs Turkey about $55 billion a year in health impacts.
The cost equals 4.1% of Turkey’s 2024 gross domestic product and about 2.5 times the Health Ministry’s 2024 budget.
Fossil fuel pollution causes about 26,500 deaths in Turkey each year, the report says.
Fossil fuels account for 52% of Turkey’s PM₂.₅ air pollution, according to the research.
The report was published by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and the Clean Air Rights Platform.
- Who
- The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and the Clean Air Rights Platform published the report.
- What
- The report estimates that fossil fuel air pollution costs Turkey about $55 billion a year and causes about 26,500 deaths annually.
- When
- The report’s findings were announced on October 22, 2026.
- Where
- The findings were announced at a press conference in Istanbul; the report concerns Turkey and regional cross-border pollution.
- Why
- Fossil fuel pollution causes health harms and related economic losses, according to the report.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The report’s estimates cover annual economic costs and deaths, while its energy data show coal supplied 35% of Turkey’s electricity and natural gas 19%.
Turkey’s energy import bill rose 33.8% from the same month a year earlier during the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
The report’s findings were announced at a press conference in Istanbul.
- Annual economic cost
- About $55 billion
- Share of 2024 GDP
- 4.1%
- Annual deaths
- About 26,500
- Share of PM₂.₅ pollution from fossil fuels
- 52%
- Annual workdays missed due to illness
- About 8.5 million
2 sources
What people are saying
Our research shows that fossil fuel-related air pollution in Turkey crosses the country's borders.
Turkey can succeed in reducing the health and economic burden of this energy source by preparing and implementing a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels.
The adverse effects on health are seen even in the womb and in babies.