24/04/2015
Leading to the Paris Conference, a conference on "Sustaining Climate Change and Development Policies in Harmony" and a Young Researchers Workshop on "Beyond Special Conditions: Turkey and Climate Change Policies" were held in Istanbul.
L’Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Marmara University Research Center for International Relations (MURCIR) and Istanbul Policy Center-Sabancı University-Stiftung Mercator Initiative held a two-day event to discuss climate change as a great threat to societies, economies and ecosystems.
Coordinated by Istanbul Policy Center Mercator-IPC researcher Dr. Ethemcan Turhan and Marmara University faculty Associate Professor Semra Cerit Mazlum, the events kicked off with introductory remarks.
Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center Director Professor Fuat Keyman, Marmara University Research Center for International Relations Director Associate Professor Semra Cerit Mazlum and Ambassador of France Laurent Bili made the opening speeches for the conference and scientific workshop designed to discuss various issues related to climate change and development policies, and in preparation for the Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP21) to be held in Paris in December 2015.
Fuat Keyman said “The global community faces two important issues: Climate change and development. The climate conference to be held in Paris at the end of the year is of international significance. Three critical issues will be discussed: development, security and economy. We need serious work before and after the event if we want the Paris conference to succeed. We need to generate new policies on an ongoing basis, and we require the involvement of different actors for this. Climate change is a major field of study for us at the IPC."
Semra Cerit Mazlum commented: “We are in a new era, new understandings, and new expectations. Are new policies possible in a new era shaped by humankind, and what kind of politics do we foresee? Turkey is among the latecomers to the climate change scene in terms of both academic work and public involvement. Our purpose behind this conference is to build networks and create platforms for discussion."
Laurent Bili delivered his speech in Turkish, saying "The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) makes some indubitable statements: 'It is without a doubt that the climate system is warming. The implications are clear: Unless collective awareness is created and people are mobilized as a whole, what we do now will not amount to more than placing the burden on the shoulders of future generations.' There will be no shortage of climate meetings in 2015, all of which will culminate at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) in Paris at the end of the year. In this respect, France faces two challenges at the same time: It will host thousands of delegates and observers for two weeks, and as the chair of COP, will act as the facilitator for a unanimous agreement."
The conference on the first day of the event brought together representatives of public, private and financial sectors, universities and nongovernmental organizations from France and Turkey. Discussing the issues were Philippe Zeller, Environmental Advisor to the Government of France; Tuba Seyyah of the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning Climate Change Office; Barış Karapınar, Chief Author of the 2nd Working Group of the 5th Research Group of IPCC; Mustafa Özgür Berke on behalf of the Climate Network; TÜSİAD Board of Directors Member Metin Akman; TSKB (Industrial Development Bank of Turkey) Sustainable Management Systems Representative Hülya Kurt, and AFD Turkey Director Bertrand Willocquet. The pressing issues in the conference were low-carbon economies and the involvement of civil society and other stakeholders in the decision-making process leading up to the climate change summit (COP 21) in Paris.
Following the conference were an exhibition by famous photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, titled "60 Solutions to Climate Change," and a cocktail.
A Young Researchers Workshop on "Beyond Special Conditions: Turkey and Climate Change Policies" was held on the second day of the event. Introductory remarks were made by UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food and University of California Global Studies Professor Hilal Elver, and IPCC 5th Progress Report 3rd Working Group Chief Author and Director of the International Center for Environment and Development, Professor Franck LeCocq.
Academics and researchers from public institutions, nongovernmental organizations and think tanks discussed various aspects of climate change and exchanged opinions.