Going Green: AKP and the Environment

Is environmentalism in the national program?
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
FERAİ TINÇ
Hürriyet

The Justice and Development Party, or AKP, government has prepared the draft of the 3rd national program on the European Union bid, put EU reforms back on the agenda again. The understanding of “If there hadn't been Brussels, we could've changed its name and proceed with the reforms program” means nothing and that has been realized finally. So I am pleased to hear that the government included EU-related reforms in its program.But somehow I cannot answer by whom these reforms will be done.Is it possible to put these reforms into practice in the absence of a strong political will? No, it's not. As we see new examples of this unwillingness every day, it is not possible at all.For instance Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan judges environmentalists, both inside and outside. He asserts that environmentalists don't do anything important and describes civil society activities on the subject matter as what dawdlers do. If so, how will he realize reforms in environmental issues so as to have accord with the EU procedures?

Plus, environment is one of the most difficult issues of the negotiation process. I scanned through the national program once again. Among the laws that should be passed in Parliament in a year, there are Nature and Conservation of Biological Diversities Law, Bio-security Law, Framework Agency Law and Framework Water Law.

In short, everything a person does for leisure time is included in this program.

But that's not all.

Adjustment to international afreements

It was also envisaged in the national program that Turkey, within a year, should adopt the bills to keep it in line with international agreements, such as The Bonn Convention, Goteborg, Rotterdam and Aarhus Convention.

The Aarhus Convention points out an obligation about the point where Mr. Prime Minister gets mad at environmentalists protesting the nuclear energy plant.

The agreement regulates rights and obligations on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters.

And there is this secondary regulation, Environmental Evaluation Regulation, proposed for 2007 but has not been adopted.

Among the objectives are evaluation of plans and programs that needs approval by a public authority regarding environmental issues and public participation into this process.

How will this be done? How will Mr. Prime Minister lashing out at environmentalists yesterday do these reforms tomorrow? What kind of political will power will he show for the practice of such reforms?

How to balance the global demands for basic needs

A government can include setting up a nuclear energy plant in its program, but should also should convince “nay” sayers and lay bare convincing justifications for that. As presenting nuclear energy as an inevitable option a government should be aware of clean energy subject and should at least be able to tell people who have respect for the environment and natural sources that adequate efforts are exerted.

The world is taking a new direction. Environment as the most distinctive element in this course gains more importance every day.

The upcoming term will determine the world politics and how the global demand for basic needs, food; water and energy sources will be met.

Protection of environment and getting the most of it in the fame of economic efficiency will take more time of humans.People expecting nothing from the future will perhaps never understand this.

http://turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=113614