Climate change increases temperature and drought impacts in Turkey
Sharing the global and national climate analyses of the last decade, Minister Murat Kurum announced that 2024 was Turkey's hottest year and 2025 was its driest year.
Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum shared the temperature and drought analyses of the Turkish State Meteorological Service for the 2016-2025 period. According to the report, while the global warming trend is also showing its effects in Turkey, record-breaking temperature and drought data have been recorded in recent years.
2016-2025 Period Global Warming
According to the report prepared by the Turkish State Meteorological Service using measurement data from international organizations, the 2016-2025 period went down in records as the hottest 10-year period on a global scale.
While a significant temperature jump occurred in 2023, the year 2024 took the title of the hottest year globally with an average temperature of 15.1 degrees.
Turkey's Temperature Records
In alignment with the global trend, numerous high-temperature records were set in Turkey over the last decade, and average temperatures remained above normal nationwide.
While 2024 became Turkey's hottest year on record with an average temperature of 15.6 degrees, the temperature average for the 2016-2025 period stood at 14.9 degrees.
Severe Drought in 2025
According to World Meteorological Organization and Copernicus evaluations, 2025 was recorded as the driest year in Turkey since 1964.
During this period, annual precipitation remained 27.6 percent below normal, while the precipitation deficit exceeded 60 percent in parts of Southeastern Anatolia.
Highest Temperature and Fight Against Climate Change
The Turkish State Meteorological Service analysis recalled that the national maximum temperature was reported as 50.5 degrees in the Silopi district of Şırnak on July 25.
Minister Murat Kurum emphasized that combating climate change is now a necessity and stated that they continue to work with the goal of a climate-resilient Turkey.