Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum said, “Turkey is a country that is willing and has a significant capacity to take its work to the next level with all its means in line with the green development revolution and 2053 net zero emission target. We show it.” said.
At the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), held at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow, Scotland, informative meetings began at the Turkey stand, which was opened by the Minister Institution under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.
In addition to the “green development revolution” initiated under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the topics of “zero waste”, “combating climate change”, “adaptation to climate change” and “low carbon emission” are discussed at the meetings.
The Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change made an assessment to the AA correspondent regarding the efforts to combat climate change and the COP26 conference. Emphasizing the importance of adaptation to climate change, the Institution said, “Climate change is not only an environmental issue, it is a development and national security issue that deeply affects many sectors.” he said.
Explaining that the effects of climate change have been seen more in the world especially in recent years, Kurum said, “We see that the damage caused by climate change causes disasters such as floods, hurricanes, droughts and fires in many parts of the world. Compared to 100 years ago, global warming-related fires increased by 30 percent and the air temperature reached 50 degrees Celsius. “The number of days on which it goes above and beyond has doubled in the last 40 years. The negative effects of climate change have also manifested themselves in Turkey, located in the Mediterranean Basin, especially in recent years, with disasters such as earthquakes, floods, forest fires and mucilage.” gave the information.
“We prevented 3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions with our Zero Waste project”
Reminding that President Erdoğan has set a net zero emission target in 2053, the institution noted that net zero emissions means the equating of greenhouse gases originating from fossil fuels with the ocean, sea and green areas that swallow and destroy them.
Stating that they have taken serious steps in this regard, the Institution continued as follows:
“Under the auspices of Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, we prevented 3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions with our Zero Waste project. We prevented 14,640 tons of greenhouse gas emissions with the paid plastic bag application. We also take our measures against greenhouse gas emissions with the Exhaust Electronic Control System (EGEDES). “In this context, we have opened 111 national gardens so far, we have increased the number of protected areas from 9 percent to 10.6 in the last two years. We continue our efforts to increase these numbers.”
Expressing that they have prevented pollution in the seas with the Zero Waste Blue project, the Minister Institution said, “As of this year, we have increased the number of blue flag beaches, which are an indicator of clean seas, to 519, and we have risen to the third place in the world.” used the phrase.
Stating that they continue to work with the aim of being the first in this field, Kurum said, “From now on, we will resolutely realize the net zero emission target with the policy, technology and a new lifestyle to be developed in all sectors. In addition, we are expanding our bicycle paths and green walking paths, within the scope of smart city applications and green city vision. “We are establishing energy efficient, climate sensitive residential areas all over our country. We are increasing our renewable energy resources all over our country in order to use less fossil fuel.” said.
“Climate change is our shared responsibility”
Reminding that Turkey has entered the “green development” period, which includes the whole world, the Authority pointed out that they are working to become a leading country within the scope of the green development revolution. The institution said, “I hope we will evaluate the green development revolution in the best way. We will carry out our fight against climate change decisively by adding new steps to the steps we have taken before.” made its assessment.
Underlining that as Turkey, they strongly participated in the conference together with the relevant institutions, the Institution said:
“We want to spend COP26 in the most efficient way on behalf of our country. The decisions taken here and the steps to be taken within the framework of the Paris Agreement are important. Our world has warmed by 1.2 degrees Celsius in the current period. All the countries of the world have entered into a struggle in order to keep this temperature at 1.5 degrees Celsius. As Turkey, we are one of the most important countries in this struggle. It should not be forgotten that climate change is our common responsibility. In this context, COP26 is an important conference where adaptation to climate change, climate migrations will be discussed and new decisions will be discussed. Turkey, green development revolution and 2053 net zero “It is a country that is willing to take its efforts to the next level with all its means in line with its emission target and has an important capacity in this regard. At COP26, we reveal our views and works in this direction.”
COP26 will be discussed at the Council to be held in the New Year
Pointing out that they will organize a ‘Climate Council’ in January 2022 in this context, the institution said, “We will reveal our long-term strategic action plan with our private sector, non-governmental organizations, universities, industrialists and international organizations at the Council. The consultations we will hold at COP26 will have an important place in our Council in the New Year.”
Relevant public institutions and organizations, non-governmental organizations, private sector representatives and universities will also share their views at the information meetings open to the participation of representatives of all countries.
Turkey will continue its work in Glasgow with a delegation of 65 people until 12 November.
