TÜRKIYE CCDR - Background Note 3 - Agriculture, fisheries, and water

Jul 19, 2026

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Background Note 3 compiles analytical work on climate risks and opportunities across Turkey’s agriculture, fisheries, and water sectors, supporting the Turkey Climate Change Development Report. It explains how climate change can worsen land degradation, reduce water availability and undermine fisheries and aquaculture, while also documenting drought and water-scarcity impacts on livelihoods and food security. It further outlines sectoral contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and highlights low-carbon pathways. Chapter 1 covers agriculture and food systems, Chapter 2 fisheries, and Chapter 3 water adaptation and mitigation priorities.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

Introduction

Chapter 1: Climate Change and Agriculture and Food Systems

Agriculture sector contributions and employment

Climate risks to rural incomes, food security, and extreme events

Chapter 2: Climate Change and Fisheries

Coastal and marine ecosystem impacts

Chapter 3: Climate Change and the Water Sector

Implications across subsectors and populations

Priorities for adaptation and mitigation

Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized TÜRKIYE CCDR Background Note 3 Agriculture, fisheries, and water Pub lic Disc losure Authorized Source: World Bank Flick Photo Collection This background note compiles analytical work on agriculture, fisheries and water sectors and was prepared by Luz B. Diaz Rios and Joshua Gill (Agriculture and Food Global Practice), Berengere Prince (Environment and Blue Economy Global Practice) and Canan Yildiz, Sanyu Lutalo, Regassa Ensermu Namara, Verena Schaidreiter and Zhimin Mao (Water Global Practice), with inputs from Jun Han (Social Protection and Labor Global Practice). INTRODUCTION Making economic development more resilient and sustainable in Turkey largely depends on the possibility to consolidate significant gains in the agriculture, fisheries, and water sectors. Climate risks are a significant threat to livelihoods and economic opportunities generated by these sectors, yet the intensification of these sectors and unsustainable management are also contributing to the climate problem. Climate change is expected to exacerbate land degradation through soil erosion, fertility loss, and nutrient depletion, with negative impacts on agriculture and livestock productivity. The short-term impacts of severe climate-related events in the sector can be dramatic and seriously compromise food security—droughts in 2007-08 affected 435,000 farmers with declines in wheat production of up to 90 percent in some regions. Climate change poses significant risks to Turkey’s water security and sustainability of Turkey’s fisheries and aquaculture systems. Over two-thirds of the country’s 25 river basins face severe water scarcity, with implications for urban and rural populations and the overall economy. A World Bank assessment on water scarcity estimates that a 10 percent reduction of water supply due to climate change would cost Turkey 6 percent of GDP. Similarly, ocean warming has contributed to an overall decrease in maximum catch potential and observed declines in many regions in the abundance of fish and shellfish stocks. While these sectors are highly affected by climate change, they are also important contributors to its solution. Agriculture is relatively carbon-intensive, compared with the rest of the economy, representing 13.4 percent of total 2019 Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Turkey. Emissions in the water sector are largely generated by electricity and fossil fuel used in pumping for water-related services. Achieving efficiencies in these sectors through adoption of improved management practices and technologies, offer considerable potential for emission reduction and enhanced carbon sequestration. This Background Note discusses key elements of the nexus between climate and the agriculture, fisheries, and water sectors to inform Turkey’s Climate Change Development Report. Chapter 1 focuses on climate change and agriculture, especially how climate risks threaten different aspects of agriculture, how agriculture and related activities contribute to climate change pressures, and how to strengthen pathways for low-carbon agriculture development. Chapter 2 focuses on climate change and fisheries. It reviews Turkey’s coastal and marine ecosystems, and sheds light on the impact of climate change on Turkey’s fisheries. Chapter 3 focuses on climate change and the water sector. It highlights the countrywide significance of climate change in this sector and of its implications across productive subsectors, landscapes and on rural and urban populations. It identifies priorities for advancing climate adaptation and mitigation to strengthen Turkey’s path towards resilience and decarbonization in the water sector. CHAPTER 1: CLIMATE CHANGE AND AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS Turkish agriculture sector contributes importantly to exports, overall economic growth, and employment. Consistent with increasing urbanization and overall economic development, the contribution of the agr

FAQs

How does climate change threaten Turkey’s agriculture and food systems?

It is expected to exacerbate land degradation through soil erosion, fertility loss, and nutrient depletion, and to increase the frequency and severity of floods while prolonging dry seasons and droughts. Severe events can dramatically compromise food security and rural livelihoods.

What risks does climate change pose for water security and fisheries in Turkey?

Over two-thirds of Turkey’s river basins face severe water scarcity, and climate change is projected to reduce surface water availability. Warmer oceans have contributed to lower maximum catch potential and observed declines in many fish and shellfish stocks.

How does the report connect these sectors to emissions and possible solutions?

Agriculture and water-related services are described as contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, while improvements in management practices and technologies can enable emission reductions and enhanced carbon sequestration. The note positions adaptation and mitigation pathways as part of strengthening resilience and decarbonization.

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Jiven