Greenpeace: Natural gas discovered in Black Sea may deepen environmental problems

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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on August 21 that "We have found 320 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the Black Sea."

While this was not fresh news for Turkey because there were often announcements of findings of natural gas, oil and coal before elections, it was criticized by nature and life defenders.

Speaking to bianet about the ecological and environmental aspects of the natural gas reverse, Greenpeace Mediterranean's Energy and Climate Project Officer Onur Akgül said that using natural gas instead of renewable energy might deepen a series of problems, including drought, heatwaves and inefficiency in agriculture.

"Turkey can produce 90 percent of its energy with renewable sources"

Turkey can reach its self-sufficiency and sustainability targets with the clean and renewable energy sources it has, Akgül said, recalling Greenpeace's 2015 report of Energy (R) Evolution.

Accordingly, Turkey can produce 90 percent of its energy needs with renewable sources by 2050 and increase the share of renewable sources to 47 percent in 2023 and 65 percent in 2030.

He added that developments in renewable technology reduce production costs. "Rather than being in need of gas, which is a fossil fuel and deepens the climate crisis, we can adapt to technological developments and create a future of cleaner, healthier and safer energy."

"Gas is not clean"

"Although it is called 'natural,' gas is a fossil fuel and a significant source of greenhouse gas, just like coal. Methane, its basic component, is a greenhouse gas 20 times stronger than carbon dioxide," Akgül said, adding that methane traps the heat in the atmosphere 20 times more than carbon dioxide.

"In short, gas is not a clean energy source. During processes such as its extraction, storage and distribution, a great amount of methane gas is released into the atmosphere. As it is used more and more, it has an impact that seriously deepens the climate crisis.

"The use of gas is also not compatible with the 1.5 degree target of the Paris Agreement, which is also signed by Turkey. The Mediterranean Basin, which also includes Turkey, are among the regions that the climate crisis will hit the hardest.

"So, using gas instead of renewable sources, the environmental disaster drought for Turkey, may deepen a series of effects, including drought, heatwaves and inefficiency in agriculture, it can escalate problems that cause losses of lives."

Dependence on natural gas

"We need to discuss energy sources according to their effects on the climate crisis. The discovered gas reserve maybe means for Turkey that we will be dependent on gas, which is not clean but a dirty fossil fuel, for a long time, even though we don't have to.

"This situation may also block, weaken investments on renewable energy sources, which are a solution to the climate crisis. Like the other pioneering countries in the world, Turkey must immediately prepare its strategy to exit from coal.

"It is a necessity to plan the exit from fossil fuels and the production of reliable, clean energy sources rather than losing time with the discovered gas reserve." (TP/VK)