Low-carbon economy in Turkey

Kick the CO2 habit: toward a low- carbon economy
byMAHMOOD AYUB*

It has already begun. The chain reaction of events related to climate change affects us all. More than ever, extreme weather conditions are causing severe natural disasters.

Droughts and floods, melting ice in the polar regions, rising sea levels, damage to ecosystems and loss of biodiversity are all indicators of climate change. Even the most persistent skeptics now agree that climate change is real and that it is happening. It has a drastic impact on our daily lives. And it is caused by a human addiction: our dangerous carbon habit. Carbon-based energy consumption and our dependence on fossil fuels have caused the eventual buildup of dangerous amounts of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.It has had devastating effects on our lives. In Bangladesh alone, 70 million people living in the country's coastal areas face inundation if sea levels continue to rise. Another major victim of climate change is biodiversity. The loss of biodiversity directly undermines our food supply. About one-fifth of domestic animal breeds are at risk of extinction, with an average of one lost each month. Of the 7,000 species of plants domesticated over our 10,000-year history of agriculture, only 30 account for the vast majority of the food we eat every day.

Our food supply is at risk

The food crisis is already showing brutal consequences for humans. The price of food is soaring. The threat of hunger and malnutrition is growing. Millions of the world's most vulnerable people are at risk. And according to a recent United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Report, prices will remain high over the next decade. Even if prices fall from current record levels, it will still mean that millions more risk further hardship or hunger. And that is not all we are doing to damage the planet. We also destroy the ecosystem that once had full power to absorb greenhouse gases. Valuable forests around the world have been sacrificed for their timber. This continues at an alarming rate so plantations can supply a growing demand for biofuels. Fertile lands are turning to desert. Oceans are facing the danger of losing key species critical to the continuity of its ecosystem.

Mitigation and adaptation is the way out

Unfortunately, we cannot reverse what has already started. However to reduce its effects we can focus on mitigation and adaptation.Nobody is immune from the results of climate change. Although the poor of the world will be hit hardest, even the richest nations face the prospects of economic recession and a world in conflict over diminishing resources.

Turkey takes steps

Turkey is also at risk. It is among the regions that will be adversely affected by climate change -- and its consequences are already being felt in the country. Additionally, 85 percent of the land area in Turkey is "highly vulnerable to desertification." With this in mind, Turkey has geared up to take necessary steps forward. Recently, President Abdullah Gül and the Turkish government said that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol were the most effective tools for sustainable development and Turkey was preparing to assume its responsibilities as a party to the UN convention. This is a very encouraging step forward.
The United Nations Turkey Office also works with the Turkish government to boost Turkey's capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change. To that end, with support from Spanish government funding, the UN Turkey Office and Turkish Ministry of Environment and Forestry began the first climate adaptation project in Turkey. Several UN agencies, including UNDP as the leading agency, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) are parties to the project.

Global response is a must

A global response to climate change is a must to mitigate and thus eradicate poverty by avoiding major global instability causing dire consequences for humanity.

That is why the theme of this year's World Environment Day (June 5) is "Kick the Habit: Toward a Low Carbon Economy." It is a way to show the dreadful consequences of our carbon addiction and the way out. Although it is not possible to reverse the effects of climate change, the good news is that technologies to mitigate and adapt to climate change exist or are under development. These same technologies will also make our consumption of carbon-based fuels cleaner and more efficient. Renewable energy is also an important priority.

There are other encouraging developments. Earlier this year, to move swiftly toward carbon neutrality, UNEP launched the Climate Neutral Network (CN Net). Today it has a wide membership portfolio, including countries, corporations and cities.

These projects and initiatives show that we are all part of the solution. We should assume our responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint and kick the habit. It is the only way out.

*Mahmood Ayub is the UN resident coordinator in Turkey.
05.06.2008
Op-Ed

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