Turkish environment and urbanization minister Murat Kurum said Wednesday that lawmakers had voted unanimously in favor of ratifying the agreement, just weeks before world leaders convene in the Scottish city of Glasgow for crucial talks on climate.
Kurum said on Twitter that he hoped the decision would help the country achieve net zero by 2053. Net zero is where the amount of greenhouse gases emitted is no greater than the amount removed from the atmosphere.
Reuters reported that lawmakers on Wednesday also adopted a statement saying that they were ratifying the deal as a developing country, and would only implement it if it did not “harm its right to economic and social development.”
“Whoever has done the most damage to nature, to our atmosphere, our water, our soil and the earth, and whoever has wildly exploited natural resources, should also make the greatest contribution to the fight against climate change,” he said.
“Unlike the past, this time no one can afford the luxury to say, ‘I’m powerful so I will not pay the bill.'”
Local climate activism groups and business chambers were supporting Turkey’s ratification ahead of the COP 26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, in early November.
CNN’s Isil Sariyuce reported from Istanbul and Caitlin Hu reported and wrote from New York.