Environmental issues in Turkey#Land degradation

The wildlife of Turkey is diverse, due to its wide variety of habitats and unique position between three continents and three seas. "Ill-considered development projects are threatening biodiversity, but a new wildlife corridor offers hope for further conservation progress."{{cite journal |last=Gross |first=Michael |date=10 July 2012 |title=Turkey's biodiversity at the crossroads |journal=Current Biology |volume=22 |issue=13 |pages=R503–R505 |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2012.06.051 |pmid=22970449 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2012CBio...22.R503G }} Turkish montane forests face major threats to their genetic diversity associated with over-exploitation, forest fragmentation, air pollution, and global climatic change.{{cite journal |last1=Çolak |first1=Alpher H. |last2=Rotherham |first2=Ian D. |date=November 2006 |title=A Review of the Forest Vegetation of Turkey: its Status Past and Present and its Future Conservation |url=http://www.ukeconet.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Colak_Rotherham_Turkish_Forests_2006.pdf |journal=Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy |volume=106B |issue=3 |pages=343–354 |doi=10.3318/bioe.2006.106.3.343 |jstor=20728606 |bibcode=2006BEPRI.106..343C |s2cid=46955795 |access-date=25 December 2015 |via=UKEconet |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313203836/http://ukeconet.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/colak_rotherham_turkish_forests_2006.pdf |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}

The European Environment Agency has identified three biogeographic regions in Turkey, the Black Sea, Mediterranean and Anatolian regions, which should be protected under the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, to which Turkey is signatory.{{citation |page=7|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/224840052

|last=Roekaerts |first=Marc |date=March 2002 |publisher=European Environment Agency |access-date=2019-08-28 |title=The Biogeographical Regions Map of Europe: Basic principles of its creation and overview of its development}}

Forest in Turkey had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.39/10, ranking it 75th globally out of 172 countries.{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978 |issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507 | pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G |doi-access=free}}

{{main|Air pollution in Turkey}}

Air pollution is particularly significant in urban areas;{{cite news |date=1 January 2013 |title=Air pollution 'gravest environmental issue' |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/air-pollution-gravest-environmental-issue.aspx?pageID=238&nid=38164 |newspaper=Hürriyet Daily News |location=Istanbul |publisher=Doğan Media Group |access-date=7 June 2013}} the problem is especially acute in Istanbul,{{cite journal |last1=Onat |first1=Burcu |last2=Sahin |first2=Ulku Alver |last3=Akyuz |first3=Tanil |date=12 November 2012 |title=Elemental characterization of PM{{sub|2.5}} and PM{{sub|1}} in dense traffic area in Istanbul, Turkey |url=http://www.atmospolres.com/articles/Volume4/issue1/abstract10.htm |journal=Atmospheric Pollution Research |publication-date=January 2013 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=101–105 |doi=10.5094/apr.2013.010 |issn=1309-1042 |oclc=857474567 |doi-access=free }} Ankara, Erzurum, and Bursa, where the combustion of heating fuels increases particulate density in winter. Almost all the urban population is exposed to particulate matter emissions higher than the EU and World Health Organization limits.{{cite web |title=How Turkey Can Ensure a Successful Energy Transition |date=10 July 2018 |url=https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/reports/2018/07/10/453281/turkey-can-ensure-successful-energy-transition/ |publisher=Center for American Progress |access-date=19 February 2019}} Especially in Istanbul, increased car ownership causes frequent urban smog conditions.{{cite web |title=Fed up with Istanbul traffic |date=20 February 2017 |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/opinion/melis-alphan/fed-up-with-istanbul-traffic--109965 |access-date=28 September 2018}} "Air pollution in urban centers, often caused by transport, and the use of small-scale burning of wood or coal, is linked to a range of health problems." "PM10 levels are 36.7 micrograms per cubic meter, much higher than the OECD average of 20.9 micrograms per cubic meter, and the annual guideline limit of 20 micrograms per cubic meter set by the World Health Organization." Although there is some monitoring of air pollution compared with other European countries, many air pollution indicators are not available.{{cite report |author=European Environment Agency |author-link=European Environment Agency |year=2013 |title=Air pollution fact sheet 2013 - Turkey |url=http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/air-pollution-country-fact-sheets/turkey-air-pollutant-emissions-country-factsheet/at_download/file |access-date=25 December 2015}} Regulations in Turkey do not contain any restrictions on the pollutant PM 2.5, which causes lung diseases.{{cite web|title=AIR POLLUTION AND ISTANBUL; Alarm bells|url=https://tr.boell.org/de/2016/04/18/air-pollution-and-istanbul-alarm-bells|publisher=Heinrich Böll Stiftung}} Greenpeace Mediterranean claim that the Afşin-Elbistan coal-fired plant is the power plant with the highest health risk in Europe, followed by the Soma coal-fired power plant, also in Turkey.{{cite news|last=Üzüm |first=İpek |date=28 May 2014 |title=Greenpeace warns about threat of Turkey's coal-fired power plants |url=http://www.todayszaman.com/news-349015-greenpeace-warns-about-threat-of-turkeys-coal-fired-power-plants.html |newspaper=Today's Zaman |location=Istanbul |publisher=Feza Publications |access-date=25 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226162838/http://www.todayszaman.com/news-349015-greenpeace-warns-about-threat-of-turkeys-coal-fired-power-plants.html |archive-date=26 December 2015 }}{{cite news |last=Tuna |first=Banu |date=11 September 2014 |title=Greenpeace activists detained in Turkey for protesting thermal power plant |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/greenpeace-activists-detained-in-turkey-for-protesting-thermal-power-plant-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=71593&NewsCatID=340 |newspaper=Hürriyet Daily News |publisher=Doğan Media Group |access-date=25 December 2015}}

{{main|Waste management in Turkey}}

{{As of|2016}} many municipalities use substandard dumps to dispose of waste.EEA (2019), p. 227

Environmental noise data is not reported.EEA (2019), p. 255

{{main|Climate change in Turkey}}

Summer temperatures have increased and are expected to continue to increase due to climate change.{{cite journal |last1=Lelieveld |first1=J. |last2=Hadjinicolaou |first2=P. |last3=Kostopoulou |first3=E. |last4=Giannakopoulos |first4=C. |last5=Pozzer |first5=A. |last6=Tanarhte |first6=M. |last7=Tyrlis |first7=E. |date=11 March 2013 |title=Model projected heat extremes and air pollution in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East in the twenty-first century |url=https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs10113-013-0444-4.pdf |journal=Regional Environmental Change |publication-date=24 March 2013 |volume=14 |issue=5 |pages=1937–1949 |doi=10.1007/s10113-013-0444-4 |issn=1436-3798 |oclc=5690407361 |access-date=25 December 2015|doi-access=free }} Coal in Turkey emits a third of the country's greenhouse gas.

Organic pollution of streams is a problem.{{cite journal|title=Assessment of Water Pollution in the Tigris River in Diyarbakır, Turkey|journal=Water Practice and Technology|volume=5|pages=1–13|url=https://www.academia.edu/393240|last1=Varol|first1=Memet|date=2010 |issue=1 |doi=10.2166/WPT.2010.021 |bibcode=2010WatPT...510021V }} There is a potential for spills from the 5,000 oil- and gas-carrying ships that pass through the Bosporus annually.

Turkey is at risk of water shortages.{{Cite web|last=sabah|first=daily|date=2019-12-19|title=Turkey at risk of water shortage in near future|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2019/12/19/turkey-at-risk-of-water-shortage-in-near-future|access-date=2020-07-27|website=Daily Sabah|language=en}} Almost three quarters of water that is consumed is used for irrigation in agriculture.{{cite web |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/how-can-we-fight-against-droughts.aspx?pageID=449&nID=70792&NewsCatID=507 |title=How can we fight against droughts? |last1=Alphan |first1=Melis |date=23 August 2014 |website=Hürriyet Daily News |publisher=Doğan Media Group |access-date=25 December 2015}}

{{see also|Reforestation#Turkey}}

Land degradation is a critical agricultural problem, caused by inappropriate use of agricultural land, overgrazing, or over-fertilization,.{{cite journal |last1=Savci |first1=Serpil |last2=Borkmaz |first2=Bellitürk |title={{sic|nolink=y|Asse|sment|expected=Assessment}} of Irrigation Water Quality of Some Provinces of Turkey |url=http://www.ijmer.com/papers/Vol3_Issue1/AD311922.pdf |journal=International Journal of Modern Engineering Research |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=19–22 |issn=2249-6645 |access-date=25 December 2015}} Serious soil erosion has occurred in 69% of Turkey's land surface. A national soil information system is being developed as presently 'it is difficult to assess the levels of land degradation, desertification or soil contamination'.{{cite web|title=Turkey's first online soil information system to be accessible to farmers and policymakers|url=http://www.fao.org/soils-2015/news/news-detail/en/c/275229/|publisher=FAO}}

Former military land in cities may be rezoned for housing.{{cite news |date=13 August 2013 |title=Turkish army's green areas may face risk of settlement |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-armys-green-areas-may-face-risk-of-settlement.aspx?pageID=238&nID=52420&NewsCatID=340 |newspaper=Hürriyet Daily News |location=Istanbul |publisher=Doğan Media Group |access-date=25 December 2015}}

The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change is responsible. The first Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control permits are expected to be issued in 2024,{{update after|2024}} to use best available techniques but to use the least stringent emission levels (of those specified in EU 2017–1442).OECD (2019), page 94 In 2021 ships were banned from using open-loop scrubbers in national waters.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-12|title=Turkey bans open-loop scrubbers|url=https://splash247.com/turkey-bans-open-loop-scrubbers/|access-date=2021-08-27|website=Splash247|language=en-GB}}

The European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) legislation was adopted in 2021 to be phased in.{{Cite web|title=Türkiye 2022 Report | EU Delegation to Türkiye|url=https://www.avrupa.info.tr/en/news/turkiye-2022-report-10910|access-date=2023-01-13|archive-date=2023-01-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113174042/https://www.avrupa.info.tr/en/news/turkiye-2022-report-10910|url-status=dead}} There is a pollutant release and transfer register website but as of September 2024 no years are publicly searchable, because it is not yet technically complete (see FAQ).{{Cite web |title=POLLUTANT RELEASE AND TRANSFER REGISTER - TURKEY |url=https://www.kstk.gov.tr/default.aspx?lang=en}} In 2024 a draft similar to the EU green taxonomy was published.{{Cite web |last=iklim.gov.tr |title=Taslaklar - İklim Değişikliği Başkanlığı |url=https://iklim.gov.tr/taslaklar-i-2124 |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=iklim.gov.tr |language=tr}}

Environmental issues are becoming more politically sensitive.{{cite news |date=26 October 2013 |title=Riot police break up ODTÜ protest in Ankara, 24 students forming human chain detained |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/riot-police-break-up-odtu-protest-in-ankara-24-students-forming-human-chain-detained.aspx?PageID=238&NID=56899&NewsCatID=341 |newspaper=Hürriyet Daily News |location=Ankara |publisher=Doğan Media Group |agency=Doğan News Agency |access-date=25 December 2015}} Changes in the law on environmental impact assessments are being considered which will permit mining investments without waiting for environmental impact assessments.{{cite news |date=28 September 2013 |title=Environment approval process 'not to delay big projects,' economy minister says |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/environment-approval-process-not-to-delay-big-projects-economy-minister-says.aspx?pageID=238&nID=55297&NewsCatID=340 |newspaper=Hürriyet Daily News |location=Ankara |publisher=Doğan Media Group |agency=Anadolu Agency |access-date=25 December 2015}} The EU has asked for "a stronger political commitment".{{cite report |author=European Commission |date=16 October 2013 |title=Turkey 2013 Progress Report |url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2013/package/tr_rapport_2013.pdf |page=71 |docket=SWD(2013) 417 final |access-date=25 December 2015 |quote=A stronger political commitment would help to accelerate the alignment with and implementation of the acquis, as well as coordination and cooperation between relevant authorities at all levels.}} In 2019 Turkey was one of five countries which voted against the proposed UN Global Pact for the Environment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecowatch.com/un-environment-pact-2567904337.html|title=U.S. One of Five Countries to Oppose UN Environment Pact|date=2018-05-11|website=EcoWatch|language=en|access-date=2019-06-17}}

A green deal action plan was written mainly by the Trade Ministry and published in 2021,{{Cite web |last=dongusel.csb.gov.tr |title=Türkiye Green Deal Action Plan - Technical Assistance for Assessment of Türkiye's Potential on Transition to Circular Economy |url=https://dongusel.csb.gov.tr/en/turkiye-green-deal-action-plan-i-106993 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=dongusel.csb.gov.tr |language=en}} but according to the Health and Environment Alliance it does not set any tangible targets or deadlines.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-17 |title=Health and Environment Alliance {{!}} Health benefits of a Green Deal approach in Turkey |url=https://www.env-health.org/health-benefits-of-a-green-deal-approach-in-turkey/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Health and Environment Alliance |language=en-GB}}

Ecotaxes on gasoline, diesel fuel and vehicles cover the social cost of carbon from the road transport sector,{{cite web |title=Effective Carbon Rates 2018 |url=https://www.oecd.org/tax/effective-carbon-rates-2018-9789264305304-en.htm |publisher=OECD |date=18 September 2018}} however being nationwide they are not designed to cover the negative externality of health costs due to local air pollution in cities.

Turkey continues to provide substantial environmentally harmful subsidies, such as subsidies for poor families to use coal for heating.OECD (2019), executive summary

{{As of|2019}} Turkey is not a party to the Aarhus Convention, and the EUEuropean Commission (2019), page 93 and OECD say the government should remove restrictions on access to environmental information:OECD (2019), executive summary researchers say the government is punishing them for publishing information about pollution.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-censorship-fogging-up-pollution-researchers-work/a-50455457|title=Turkey: Censorship fogging up pollution researchers' work {{!}} DW {{!}} 17.09.2019|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-09-27}}

• Water supply and sanitation in Turkey
• Polluting Paradise, a 2012 documentary film about the village of Çamburnu, which has been turned into a rubbish dump by the government
• 2013 protests in Turkey, which were sparked by environmental issues
• TEMA Foundation, an environmental organisation

• [https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/countries/eea-member-countries/turkiye Türkiye] at European Environment Agency
• [https://www.iucn.org/regions/europe/resources/country-focus/turkey Biodiversity in Turkey]
• [http://www.cbd.int/countries/?country=tr Convention on Biological Diversity]
• [https://www.cekud.org.tr/ "Çevre Kuruluşları Dayanışma Derneği" environmental organization]
• [https://ekosfer.org/ Ekosfer environmental organization]
• [https://sefia.org/en/about/ Sefia environmental organization]

• {{cite journal

|journal=OECD

|title=OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Turkey 2019

|date=February 2019

|doi=10.1787/9789264309753-en

|isbn=9789264309746

|s2cid=242969625

}}

• {{cite web

|work=European Commission

|title=Turkey 2019 Report

|date=May 2019

|url=https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/20190529-turkey-report.pdf

}}

• {{cite report

| year = 2019

| title = The European environment — state and outlook 2020

| url = https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/soer-2020

| publisher = European Environment Agency (EEA)

}}

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Issues

Category:Environmentalism in Turkey