Asterisk2050 is a unit that scientifically explores the changing perception of climate and environment and proposes sustainable development policies. Climate policies are not sufficiently debated in Turkey by policy makers. In addition, it has been determined that especially the center-right parties in Turkey, when faced with the dilemma of development and environment, tend to favor development, and neither conceives simultaneously. For this reason, the Asterisk2050 was created to enable the changing perception of global development to be discussed in Turkey and influence political parties’ policies and discourses. In this context, we see the European Green Deal is essential for Turkey’s climate policies. The EU and Turkey have a long history, both politically and economically. This structural transformation plan taken by one of the actors naturally affects the other. In this context, Asterisk2050 sees the European Green Deal as a catalyst in bilateral relations and suggests that cooperation will benefit both actors.

The reports it generates are forwarded directly to the decision-makers in Turkey. In this way, it directly affects the political agenda and discourses in Turkey. The discourses of political parties in Turkey on issues such as climate, energy, and economy since the first day are proof of this situation. In June 2021, in the report prepared before the start of the project, the compliance of the political parties in Turkey with the European Green Deal was tested and scored. With this report, which measures the parties’ approaches at that time, a noticeable difference has been identified in the interviews made with the same political actors in December 2022. 

This process, of course, does not belong to Asterisk2050 by itself. However, the meetings, reports, and interviews with the relevant officials of the political parties made an essential contribution to the adaptation to the climate policies in Turkey and the EU Green Deal. Asterisk2050 is one of the rare unit that produce political discourse and policy towards the climate crisis. Taking the problem to a political realm and seeking a solution from an academic point of view is one of its most crucial principles. In this context, it makes a critical contribution to climate policies in Turkey.

The European Climate Foundation has supported this project for the last three years. The first year was solely based on climate communication training for CSOs. Over the previous two years, the project focused on influencing policymakers directly, and we communicated closely with this target group. The opposition alliance in Turkey announced a mutual agreement at the beginning of 2023, which was a massive step toward the national elections, which will take place on the 14th of May, 2023. We are glad that many points we presented to the political parties made it to the opposition alliance’s mutual agreement. The D84 team is proud of this achievement since one of the association’s aims is to create necessary policy changes in Turkey.