World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Turkey made a statement on World Environment Day marked on June 5. WWF Turkey drew attention to losses of biological diversity, climate change, urbanization and industrialization and related problems.
It was pointed out in the statement that growing cities, climate change, increasing consumption, transportation and industrial activities not only affect humans but also species. It was indicated that Turkey, a country hosted more than 11,000 plant species, needed serious environmental protection.
Hunting tourism for endangered species
Headlines from WWF Turkey's statement are as below:
* The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species include 127 fishes, 103 plants, 17 mammals and 16 bird species.
* 364 endangered species include grizzly bear, chevrotain and mouflon which are killed in the name of hunting tourism.
Air pollution increases
* As cities grow, a life style which promotes the consumption of energy and resources is becoming widespread. Using fossil fuel for heating and traffic triggers air pollution.
Only 60% of the waste water is purified
* Only 60% of the waste water of the society is purified. Absence of public transportation is felt in fast growing cities. Mega projects like 3rd bridge, 3rd Airport and hydroelectric plant projects threat the natural life.
There will be water shortage in 2030
* Increasing urbanization and industrial activities show that in Turkey there will be water shortage in 2030. Precautions must be taken in all the fields that water is used; especially agricultural sector which consumes 89% of the water.
Greenhouse gas has increased by 110%
* Climate change report of Turkey is not pleasant at all. Compared to the year of 1990, greenhouse gas has increased by 110% since the end of 2013. The amount of greenhouse gas emission per person in Turkey has passed 6,000 kilograms and has approached to the average amount of European countries.
67% of the greenhouse gases result from energy resources
* The data here show Turkey should take responsibility in climate summit which will be held in Paris in the end of the year. As usage of fossil fuel is increasing, climate change is triggered and species are affected.
* 67.8% of the greenhouse gases result from energy resources. It points us to use renewable energy resources instead of coal, petrol and natural gas and to economize energy consumption. (NV/BD)
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