THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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On World Water Day, the Sustainable Production and Consumption Association (SÜT-D) highlighted the importance of water in various aspects of human life, including agriculture, industry, energy, and tourism. They emphasized that only 2.5% of water is fresh water, with the majority being found in glaciers. However, due to the effects of climate change and the rapid melting of glaciers, people’s livelihoods, health, and access to resources are in jeopardy.
The association called for the protection of glaciers and water and urged for action to mitigate climate change. Professor Dr. Filiz Karaosmanoğlu, Chairwoman of the Sustainable Production and Consumption Association, emphasized the need to prioritize glacier protection in efforts to combat climate change and address the global water crisis. They further highlighted the significance of glaciers as water reservoirs and their crucial role in sustaining ecosystems. The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year for the Protection of Glaciers and World Glacier Day will be observed on March 21st each year.
In this text, Dr. Karaosmanoğlu underlines the rapidly changing climate, with the last decade being the warmest on record. She emphasizes that climate change is causing various issues such as precipitation anomalies, sea level rise, loss of snow and glaciers, droughts, heat waves, and migration. These climate-related problems pose a threat to both human and wildlife populations, including species like polar bears and penguins. She argues that protecting glaciers should be seen as a survival strategy, and stresses the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and manage melting water more sustainably.
Dr. Karaosmanoğlu specifically addresses the situation in Türkiye, where valley glaciers, calving glaciers, and mountain glaciers are located in the Eastern Black Sea Mountains, Taurus Mountains, and volcanoes. The largest mountain glacier is on Mount Ararat, with a surface area of approximately 10 square kilometers. The Cilo Mountain Uludoruk Glacier is the largest valley glacier, estimated to be 20 thousand years old. However, these glaciers are melting at a significant rate, with some losing between 1 and 20 meters per year. Without urgent action, the Cilo Mountain glaciers may disappear within the next 20-50 years. Dr. Karaosmanoğlu stresses that everyone shares responsibility for climate change and urges individuals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in various aspects of life.
Indicating efforts to address climate change in Türkiye, the Sustainable Production and Consumption Association (SÜT-D) established in 2013, aims to create a strong societal impact by promoting sustainable production and consumption practices, utilizing the best technologies for energy, water, waste management, and resource efficiency. The association focuses on combating environmental pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss, while promoting a sustainable living culture that is both people and nature-friendly. SÜT-D emphasizes collaboration with official authorities, local administrations, universities, and non-governmental organizations, working towards sustainability management and offering the collective power of civil society for the welfare and comfort of present and future generations.
In conclusion, this text highlights the urgency of climate change and the risks it poses to glaciers and our overall well-being. It emphasizes the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, manage melting water sustainably, and promote sustainable production and consumption practices. Specific attention is given to the situation in Türkiye and the efforts of the Sustainable Production and Consumption Association to address climate change and create a more sustainable future.
