Accessing green finance: a roadmap for SMEs ahead of COP31

Finance is one of COP31's most repeated messages. At the "Towards COP31: Climate Finance Policy Dialogue" at the Istanbul Finance Center on 7 September 2026, organised by the Zero Waste Foundation, the Treasury and Finance Ministry, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change and the UN in Türkiye, the point was made plainly: finance is not an add-on to climate policy — it is what implements it. Public resources must have more impact, and private investors must gain the confidence to invest.¹

Green support for SMEs in Türkiye

KOSGEB's Green Industry Support Programme runs under the World Bank-funded Türkiye Green Industry Project (USD 450 million; USD 250 million via KOSGEB for SME projects, USD 175 million via TÜBİTAK for R&D and innovation).² It offers manufacturing SMEs repayable support:³

Higher rates apply in the earthquake region. Check KOSGEB for current calls before applying.

Finance on the COP31 calendar

• 13 Nov — Finance and Trade: green finance, value chains, carbon markets.⁴
• 19 Nov — İmece: investment-ready projects, access to finance.⁴
• Climate Implementation Bridge: bankable pipelines backed by public, private and blended finance.⁵ See our article.

A finance-ready SME checklist

1. Baseline data — 12 months of energy, fuel and water use.
2. A concrete project — e.g. "250 kWp rooftop solar, ~X MWh a year".
3. Technical feasibility — energy audit, quotes, payback.
4. Impact metrics — tonnes CO₂e avoided, waste or water saved.
5. Documents — ISO 14001, ISO 50001, carbon footprint reports.
6. The right channel — KOSGEB, development agencies, banks' green loans, your chamber.