Boğaziçi University faculty member, climate scientist Prof. Dr. Levent Kurnaz, in his evaluation titled “Paris Ship: Certain Port, No Captain”, brought up the main problem of the global climate struggle. Kurnaz stated that the Paris Climate Agreement, adopted in 2015, brought countries together towards a common goal, but could not create a binding sanction mechanism to achieve this goal.
EVERYONE ON BOARD, NO CAPTAIN
Comparing the Paris Agreement to a giant ship, Kurnaz stated that the USA, China, India, European countries and oil producers are on the same ship, but each country determines its own pace. Reminding that countries have made commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Kurnaz emphasized that no international institution can mandate that these promises be kept.
US WITHDRAWAL DISTURBED THE BALANCES
Reminding that the USA withdrew from the Paris Agreement for the second time as of January 27, 2026, Kurnaz stated that Washington’s departure did not change the world’s remaining carbon budget, but increased the responsibility of other countries. He pointed out that there is no global authority to force China, India and other major economies to reduce emissions further.
LOST TIME DOES NOT COME BACK
Kurnaz emphasized that it is not enough for countries to announce more ambitious targets every five years, and that the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere continues to accumulate. Stating that every delay makes future emission reductions more difficult, Kurnaz stated that the real emission amounts, not diplomatic promises, are the determining factor in the climate crisis.
ATMOSPHERE DOES NOT WAIT FOR NEGOTIATIONS
Stating that the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees is becoming increasingly difficult, Kurnaz said that this does not mean giving up the fight. According to Kurnaz, who emphasizes that every tenth of a difference in temperature increase is important, the world knows the extent of the climate crisis and what needs to be done. However, there is still no governance mechanism that will enable countries to move at the speed required to achieve the common goal.
