content tagged with climate crisis

Tuğçe Yılmaz

The ‘haunting’ face of the climate crisis: Ancient structures emerge from drought

The ‘haunting’ face of the climate crisis: Ancient structures emerge from drought

As drought exposes ancient harbors and settlements in Lake Van and Lake İznik, experts highlight the urgent need for preservation and warn of the risks posed by the rise of “drought tourism.”

24 November 2025 Tuğçe Yılmaz

Ayşegül Başar

Pursuits of justice rise with temperatures: Climate lawsuits are redefining rights

Pursuits of justice rise with temperatures: Climate lawsuits are redefining rights

The latest advisory opinion by the United Nations’ International Court of Justice expands the legal framework for combating the climate crisis and transforms “climate justice” from an abstract concept into a concrete one. In Turkey, it was young people who brought the climate crisis before the high court.

5 November 2025 Ayşegül Başar

Decarbonization and poverty must be addressed together

Decarbonization and poverty must be addressed together

Turkey’s new climate commitments focus solely on emission reduction targets. Experts emphasize that adaptation measures have long been neglected in the country’s climate policies.

22 October 2025

Climate crisis is changing Turkey's fire regime

Climate crisis is changing Turkey's fire regime

"By creating monoculture pine plantations in these areas, we have essentially scattered atomic bombs across the Mediterranean," says Assoc. Prof. Ürker.

Fires caused by human activity spread to much larger areas

Fires caused by human activity spread to much larger areas

Simulations show that in a scenario without human influence, four times less forest area would burn.

Melisa Elçin Özçelikel

Maltepe thermal walks: Citizen science project highlights local impact of heatwaves

Maltepe thermal walks: Citizen science project highlights local impact of heatwaves

The project combines scientific measurements with residents’ experiences to strengthen the search for solutions to the climate crisis.

3 July 2025 Melisa Elçin Özçelikel

Turkey’s climate bill favors business over environment, says MP

Turkey’s climate bill favors business over environment, says MP

"This is a law that places businesses, not nature and ecosystems, at its core. It does not include any serious measures to combat climate change or protect nature. Instead, it aims to integrate Turkey into the European Union’s Green Deal," says Perihan Koca.

18 March 2025 Doğa Tekneci

'Turkey's climate law does not aim to combat climate change'

'Turkey's climate law does not aim to combat climate change'

Experts believe that the Climate Law draft is designed to regulate potential economic gains from climate change rather than addressing the issue itself.

26 February 2025

Tuğçe Yılmaz

What is eco-anxiety?

What is eco-anxiety?

Eco-anxiety is a term that defines the type of anxiety that develops due to ecological crises. In the face of environmental problems, it is critical to take small steps to alleviate anxiety and find a way to access accurate information.

25 December 2024 Tuğçe Yılmaz

Tuğçe Yılmaz

“They are trying to criminalize the struggle to protect nature”

DURSUN ALİ KOYUNCU:

“They are trying to criminalize the struggle to protect nature”

The arrest of Dursun Ali Koyuncu, a leading figure in the ecological struggle in Artvin in northeastern Turkey, is yet another example of repression targeting environmental defenders in Turkey. The area licensed to mining has reached 70% of the province, while citizens continue to protect nature in the face of all manners of repression.

24 December 2024 Tuğçe Yılmaz

Esmer Değirmen

Is it possible to revitalize the Marmara Lake?

Is it possible to revitalize the Marmara Lake?

The court case on the transformation of the Marmara Lake in the Gölmarmara District of Manisa Province in the west of Turkey has concluded in favour of environmental activists. We asked experts whether it was possible for the lake to be rehabilitated back to its former ecological state.

23 December 2024 Esmer Değirmen

Turkey experienced hottest July in 53 years

Turkey experienced hottest July in 53 years

The highest temperature was recorded at 45.9 degrees in the southeastern Şırnak province.

Turkey experienced 30 days of extreme heat in a year due to human-induced climate change

Turkey experienced 30 days of extreme heat in a year due to human-induced climate change

The country would experience much less days of extreme heat in a hypothetical scenario without human-induced climate change, shows a study.

'Climate in Turkey could become warmer, drier, and more unpredictable'

'Climate in Turkey could become warmer, drier, and more unpredictable'

According to a new study examining how the climate crisis will impact extreme weather events, Turkey is predicted to experience increasingly warmer and drier conditions.

Young climate activists visit parliament

Young climate activists visit parliament

"The future is in danger due to the inadequacy of Turkey's national contribution statements submitted to the UN," warns the activists.

21 February 2024

Turkey witnesses record number of extreme weather events in 2023

Turkey witnesses record number of extreme weather events in 2023

The number of extreme weather events in Turkey reached a new record in 2023, reaching 1475. The previous year had seen 1030 extreme weather events.

5 February 2024

Turkey’s new climate bill ‘a contract with the capital,’ warns climate group

Turkey’s new climate bill ‘a contract with the capital,’ warns climate group

“The Climate Law is an attempt to secure the dirty profits obtained by exploiting nature and labor through carbon trade and legitimize the right to pollute implicitly granted to capital through the carbon market,” says the Climate Justice Coalition.

8 November 2023

Carbon dioxide emissions from transportation are accelerating the climate crisis

Carbon dioxide emissions from transportation are accelerating the climate crisis

The climate events that most affect urban transportation are problems arising from extreme, heavy rains causing floods and inundations, violent winds and storms, heatwaves, wildfires, and issues related to rising sea levels in coastal areas.

30 October 2023

Recession continues in Turkey's largest lake

Recession continues in Turkey's largest lake

Roughly a 100 square kilometer of area covered with water in Lake Van has turned into land, a researcher has warned.

14 September 2023

Report: Extreme temperatures now five times more likely in most of Europe, including Turkey

CLIMATE CRISIS

Report: Extreme temperatures now five times more likely in most of Europe, including Turkey

The western half of Turkey and the Southeastern Anatolia Region are particularly affected by the heat this week.

Turkey breaks temperature record with 49.5°C in Eskişehir

Turkey breaks temperature record with 49.5°C in Eskişehir

The Central Anatolian province has seen the highest-ever temperature measured in the country.

Study: Invasive species cost more than 100 billion dollars to Turkey

Study: Invasive species cost more than 100 billion dollars to Turkey

Situated at the crossroads of continents with long borders, Turkey is among the countries that will be significantly affected by invasive species, according to a new study.

İstanbul's new climate museum sheds light on the past and future of climate crisis

İstanbul's new climate museum sheds light on the past and future of climate crisis

From basic information about the climate crisis to in-depth exploration of key debates, the Climate Museum offers a captivating journey into the complexities and urgency of addressing the global climate crisis.

14 June 2023 Tuğçe Yılmaz

How climate crisis affects Turkey's agricultural production

How climate crisis affects Turkey's agricultural production

For many years, Turkey has been unable to achieve yield increases in its key agricultural products, placing the country significantly behind its global competitors in this regard.

Young climate activists file lawsuit against Erdoğan over 'inadequate emission goals'

Young climate activists file lawsuit against Erdoğan over 'inadequate emission goals'

Launching an online petition, the activists said, "We are suing Turkey for violating our human rights by pursuing a goal that lacks scientific basis and is actually a 'greenhouse gas increase decision'."

Turkey saw record number of extreme weather events in 2022

Turkey saw record number of extreme weather events in 2022

Extreme rainfall and floods made up 33.6 percent of all events.

Drought in Türkiye likely to continue amid an expected warm winter

Drought in Türkiye likely to continue amid an expected warm winter

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry points out a drop in the cumulative average rainfall of 28.6 percent between October 1 and December 1 across the country.

Türkiye increases emission reduction target

Türkiye increases emission reduction target

The environment minister announced the updated target, but environmental groups say it's a "reduction from the increase."

16 November 2022

Türkiye scores 'very low' in climate change index

Türkiye scores 'very low' in climate change index

The country is in 33rd place in greenhouse gas emissions, 49th place on the energy use list, and 62nd place in climate policy in the index.

14 November 2022

The absence of green politics in Türkiye's political arena

The absence of green politics in Türkiye's political arena

Türkiye is moving into its 100-year existence, with perhaps its most important elections in recent history. However, green politics remain seemingly absent from the agenda.

20 October 2022 Wouter Massink

Drought caused sunken basilica in Lake İznik to resurface

Drought caused sunken basilica in Lake İznik to resurface

It was discovered that the basilica was constructed 1500 years ago in the name of Saint Neophytos. Work has been underway in order to make the basilica area an underwater museum.

13 October 2022

Cyclists pedal to bring attention to decreasing water level in Türkiye's largest lake

Cyclists pedal to bring attention to decreasing water level in Türkiye's largest lake

Cyclists rode on the islets that have emerged due to the withdrawal of water in Lake Van.

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