TEMA Foundation Reviews Key Environmental Events of 2023

The TEMA Foundation, continuing its work for nature without interruption, evaluated Turkey's prominent positive and negative environmental developments in 2023. Throughout 2023, both Turkey and the world faced various ecological problems. Chief among these were: erosion and soil loss, declining food security, water stress, the climate crisis and the floods it caused, declining biodiversity, deforestation and damage to nature conservation areas. Turkey faced major earthquake disasters and their consequences. In addition, coal-based energy policies and Group 4 mining activities caused serious damage to our country's natural resources. Furthermore, spatial planning conducted without harmony with nature in urban and rural areas, and mounting construction pressures, have pushed ecological imbalance to even more critical levels.

2023's Hopeful Environmental News

Good News from Murat Mountain

The Environmental Impact Assessment process for the Yıldız Gold-Silver Mine project planned in the Gediz district of Kütahya was halted once again when the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change issued a negative EIA decision. As a result of the reaction shown by citizens, local administrations and professional chambers against the project under the slogan "Let Murat Mountain Survive," this important water and tourism resource of the region gained new life.

Encouraging News from Eskişehir Alpu

Eskişehir First Administrative Court annulled the positive EIA decision for the thermal power plant project planned for the Eskişehir Great Plain Protection Area. The Environmental Organization Plan that enabled the construction of the Alpu Thermal Power Plant Project was annulled by court decision as a result of our application. The annulment of the positive EIA decision for the project increased our joy that an important agricultural site area has been protected. In the court decision, reference was made to the fact that treating the coal mine, coal-fired thermal power plant cooling water distribution and discharge lines from Gökçekaya Dam to the facility as separate activities was scientifically unfounded, that the project was not evaluated comprehensively, and that an integrated approach was not used in waste quantity calculations. The decision also noted that the data used in air quality modeling was uncertain and that no study was conducted on how the thermal plant's ash storage area would affect groundwater quality. With these two consecutive decisions protecting Eskişehir's natural resources and agricultural lands, we at the TEMA Foundation continue to nurture hope!

COP28's Establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund and First Steps Towards Phasing Out Fossil Fuels

Two important developments took place at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) held in Dubai between 30 November and 13 December. Countries largely responsible for greenhouse gas emissions pledged to provide approximately USD 800 million in financing under the Loss and Damage Fund to address the losses suffered by populations deeply affected by the climate crisis. However, the amount needed to cover losses and damages is estimated to be in the billions of dollars annually. The decision on implementing the fund did not mention the need for a study to calculate the loss and damage amount. The decision to establish the secretariat for the fund temporarily under the World Bank rather than as an independent authority also drew criticism from civil society. This is because the secretariat needs to be independent for communities and countries in need of resource access to benefit fairly from the fund. Moreover, while the Loss and Damage Fund should be structured as a grant, the World Bank is an organization that also finances fossil fuels and pursues debt-based policies. The second important step taken within COP28 was the decision announced as a result of the Global Stocktake (GST). The decision text included language on phasing out fossil fuels. Although this represents a first step toward abandoning fossil fuels, it is insufficient as it does not contain specific targets. On the other hand, there were positive developments at the conference, such as the commitment to triple renewable energy by 2030 and the participation of many countries in the Post-Coal Energy Alliance. However, Turkey's failure to sign these documents and participate in these processes took its place among negative environmental agendas for nature.

2023's Negative Environmental News

We Were Deeply Shaken by the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes

On 6 February 2023, Turkey was shaken by earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.5 centered in the Pazarcık and Elbistan districts of Kahramanmaraş respectively. The earthquakes were felt intensely in surrounding provinces, particularly Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Gaziantep, Hatay, Osmaniye, Malatya and Şanlıurfa. As a result of the earthquakes, according to official figures, at least 50,783 people lost their lives in Turkey, and over 122,000 people were injured. The destruction caused by the earthquakes and the reconstruction process created many negative impacts on the environment and community life. The basic needs of earthquake victims in the region—shelter, clean food and access to water—remain urgent. We reiterate that in new mass housing projects to be built, careful site selection must be made so that our olive groves, forests and agricultural lands are not destroyed. Demolition waste containing asbestos, heavy metals and many other harmful compounds dumped near agricultural areas, olive groves, coasts and water resources will create serious problems for both the environment and public health. As the TEMA Foundation, given that we are in an earthquake zone, we once again remind that taking necessary precautions against earthquakes, implementing disaster management plans and preparing debris management plans are vital.

We Have Entered the Age of Global Boiling

The World Meteorological Organization and the Copernicus Earth Observation Program announced that July was the hottest month on record. Following this, the United Nations declared that this is only the beginning of the climate crisis and that we are no longer in the age of global warming but in the age of global boiling. The frequency and intensity of heat waves in our country and the world are increasing. Scientists emphasize that the fundamental cause of disasters such as forest fires, sudden rainfall and floods is the climate crisis caused by greenhouse gases resulting from human activities.

Mines Are Not Worth Our Living Spaces

Group 4 mining activities causing irreversible damage to protected areas, forest areas, water basins, productive agricultural lands and living spaces pose increasingly serious threats with each passing day. Through our work on mining licenses at the TEMA Foundation, we determined that an average of 67% of 29 provinces in our country are licensed for Group IV mines. The distribution of mining licenses by province: Gümüşhane 93%, Kütahya 92%, Giresun 85%, Rize 82%, Uşak 80%, Çanakkale-Balıkesir (Kaz Mountains) 79%, Trabzon 77%, Ordu 74%, Zonguldak-Bartın 72%, Artvin 71%, Eskişehir 71%, İzmir 70%, Bayburt 65%, Sivas 65%, Tekirdağ-Kırklareli 65%, Erzurum 63%, Muğla 59%, Kahramanmaraş 58%, Afyonkarahisar 52%, Erzincan-Tunceli 52%, Tokat 46%, Karaman 38% and Siirt-Şırnak-Batman 34%. As the TEMA Foundation, to protect our natural resources, food security and cultural values, we demand that areas of vital importance be closed to mining activities by law.

Mining Accidents Claimed Lives Again

According to publicly reported information: on 8 June, 1 worker died in a landslide accident at a mine pit in Soma; on 13 September, 1 worker died in a roof collapse at a mine pit in Karadeniz Ereğli district of Zonguldak; on 15 November, 2 workers died in a chrome mine pit collapse in the Karaismailler neighborhood, Acıpayam district of Denizli; and on 23 November, 3 workers died in a collapse at a mine pit in Şirvan district of Siirt. A total of 7 mine workers lost their lives.

Agricultural Land Destroyed in Yalova Despite Court Decision

We won a case we filed in 2020 for the annulment of the Ministry Decision allowing non-agricultural use for an industrial facility planned to be built on agricultural land in the Taşköprü town of Çiftlikköy district of Yalova. The court decision emphasized that the land in question was absolute agricultural land and that alternative areas existed for the planned investment on the property concerned. Subsequently, the company and ministry appealed our victory, but the court rejected the appeal request, validating the annulment decision. Additionally, the decision was approved by the Council of State. Unfortunately, despite our legal victory, investments on the agricultural land began before the court outcome was concluded, and this caused the absolute agricultural soil in that area to lose its status. Necessary legal steps will be taken for the implementation of the decision.

Water Crisis Deepens

Rising temperatures, evaporation and drought due to the climate crisis are deepening the water crisis. According to data measured in September this year, Istanbul dam fill rates reached their lowest levels since 2014. The average dam fill rate, measured at 56.88% on 5 September 2022, fell to 27.88% one year later, on 5 September 2023. As the TEMA Foundation, in these times when we increasingly feel the effects of the climate crisis, we emphasize once more how important it is to protect our water resources and use water efficiently by preventing water waste.

No to Nuclear Energy

Unfortunately, efforts to establish nuclear power plants in our country continue without slowing down. Despite all objections, while the first unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant being activated in Mersin is nearing completion, studies continue in the region for the nuclear plant planned in Sinop despite lawsuits filed. As the TEMA Foundation, we have a case pending before the Council of State regarding the annulment of the Sinop-Kastamonu-Çankırı Planning Region 1/100,000 Scale Environmental Organization Plan Amendment and the Sinop Central District Planning Sub-Region 1/25,000 Scale Environmental Organization Plan Amendment (Sinop Nuclear Power Plant) and requesting that enforcement be halted as a priority. Litigation is ongoing. Survey work also began in the Thrace Region for a third nuclear plant. As the TEMA Foundation, we remind once again that our energy needs should be met with "energy efficiency and clean energy technologies," and we call on all decision-makers once more to choose life.