Cihanşümul Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi

Öz

This study aims to examine the evolution of environmental policies in Turkey's development plans. Over time, approaches to the environment in these plans have undergone significant transformation. In the early development plans, the environment was viewed as a component of economic growth and industrialization, while in later years, environmental sustainability and environmental protection became increasingly prominent. After the 1970s, issues such as environmental pollution were identified, and various legal and institutional measures were introduced to address these concerns. From the 1990s onwards, global environmental issues, particularly sustainable development and climate change, were integrated into Turkey's development policies. The study analyzes how the approach to the environment evolved in each development plan, how environmental management and sustainability strategies developed, and the interactions at both the national and international levels. Additionally, it examines how Turkey's environmental policies aligned with the European Union accession process and global environmental agreements. In this context, the development of policies on current environmental issues such as environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation, and nature-based solutions is explored. As a result, it is shown that Turkey's approach to the environment has become more comprehensive and aligned with international norms over time, and environmental governance has emerged as a priority policy area in the present day.