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"In 2017, 399 thousand 25 people over the age of 30 lost their lives in Turkey. 51 thousand 574 of these people died of air-pollution related illnesses. This figure is seven times higher than the ones who lost their lives in traffic accidents. In the same year, the highest number of deaths due to air pollution occurred in İstanbul (5,581), Bursa (3,098) and Ankara (2,139)."
The above information was shared by the Right to Clean Air Platform in its report entitled "Effects of Air Pollution on Health: Black Report."
Tomorrow is June 5 World Environment Day. This year, nine out of every 10 people do not breathe clean air across the world.
Accordingly, on the occasion of June 5 World Environment Day, two civil society organizations, namely the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Turkey and Greenpeace, have released a joint statement for the press and raised concerns over the dimensions of air pollution in Turkey and the world by referring to the above report of the Right to Air Clean Platform.
The statement has shared the following information on Turkey:
'8 of Europe's top 10 air polluted cities in Turkey'
* The air of Turkey is getting more and more unbreathable. As the air pollution caused by unplanned urbanization, transportation and industry is not taken under control, they lead to a series of air pollution-related diseases such as asthma, KOAH and cancer.
* According to the report of World Health Organization (WHO), eight of Europe's top 10 air polluted cities were in Turkey in 2017.
* An effective struggle with air pollution requires encouraging use of public transportation and bicycles, creating areas closed to vehicle traffic, protecting and extending forests, introducing legal amendments that would decrease air-polluting emissions from vehicles and popularizing the use of renewable energy sources for heating instead of fossil fuels.
Bayram: 'Half of 81 cities breathed polluted air'
Greenpeace Mediterranean Project Director Deniz Bayram evaluated the situation in Turkey in following words:
"Air pollution, which is one of the most serious environmental problems of the world, is not only an environmental issue, but a threat shortening the life expectancy of people and impairing their quality of life.
"According to the Black Report prepared by the Right to Clean Air Platform, to which Greenpeace is also a member, air pollution caused the death of 52 thousand people in Turkey between the years of 2016 and 2018.
"This figure is seven times higher than the ones who died in traffic accidents. Between these years, half of 81 cities breathed polluted air."
About World Environment DayWorld Environment Day is the United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. Since it began in 1974, the event has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries. Each World Environment Day is organized around a theme that draws attention to a particularly pressing environmental concern. The theme for 2019 is "Air pollution". Every World Environment Day has a different host country, where the official celebrations take place. The focus on the host country helps highlight the environmental challenges it faces and supports worldwide efforts to address them. This year's host is China. * Source: worldenvironmentday.global |
(EMK/SD)
