The indicator is a response indicator. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), one of the most important tools of sustainable development, has been used in our country since 1993. An EIA is an important tool to prevent possible impacts of planned projects on the environment and to determine the chosen location and technological alternatives. Before the projects are put into practice, according to the EIA legislation, it has become obligatory to obtain a certificate of EIA Positive/EIA Not Required.

The EIA decisions are significant in that they reflect the state of industrialization and development in our country.

GRAPH 141- THE NUMBER OF EIA POSITIVE AND EIA NOT REQUIRED DECISIONS BETWEEN 1999 AND 2020 AND THE GDP PER CAPITA IN TURKEY

Sources: 1) Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, General Directorate of EIA, Permit and Inspection for EIA data, 2021

               2) TURKSTAT for GDP per capita data, 2021

Note: EIA decisions subject to EIA statistics are not revised retroactively with respect to the issues of failure to start the investment without force majeure within the time limit established under the EIA Legislation, or revocation or invalidity of the EIA decision with the Court Decision.

In summary,“EIA Positive Decisions” are defined as positive decisions made as a result of the assessment of projects that are included in the list in Annex-1 of the Legislation and have relatively high environmental impacts. “EIA Not Required Decisions” on the other hand, are positive decisions made as a result of the assessment of projects listed in Annex-2 of the legislation that have relatively low environmental impacts compared to ANNEX -1.

In Turkey, the first EIA Legislation was published in 1993, and by the end of 2020, a total of 6,118 “ EIA Positive”decisions had been made. Looking at the distribution of these decisions by sector, it can be seen that investments in petroleum and mining lead the way with 28%, followed by investments in the energy sector with 23%, and investments in the waste and chemical sector with 14%, and the agriculture and food sector with 13%.

Looking at the distribution of the 65,934 “EIA Not Required” decisions by sector between 1993 and the end of 2020, investments in petroleum and mining again lead the way with 49%. This is followed by investments in agriculture and food with 14% and industrial investments with 13%.

GRAPH 142- SECTORAL DISTRIBUTION OF EIA POSITIVE DECISIONS BETWEEN 1993-2020

GRAPH 143- SECTORAL DISTRIBUTION OF EIA NOT REQUIRED DECISIONS BETWEEN 1993-2020

Source:Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, General Directorate of EIA, Permit and Inspection

Note: EIA decisions, which are subject to EIA Statistics, are not revised retrospectively regarding the issues of not starting investment without force majeure within the period specified within the scope of the EIA Legislation, or canceling or voiding the EIA decision with the Court Decision