Turkey Announces Three Major Environmental Projects Under Vision of “The Century of Turkey”
The Turkish Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Mehmet Özhaseki, has revealed three significant environmental initiatives that align with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s “Century of Turkey” vision. The projects, titled “Seas Belong to the People,” “Mooring Buoy Project,” and “Deposit Information System,” aim to confront the adverse impacts of climate change and ensure a cleaner environment for future generations.
During the “Media Meeting for Environmental Projects,” Minister Özhaseki shared details about the initiatives, emphasizing the government’s commitment to combatting climate change and promoting sustainable development. “We will not allow our ‘Green Homeland’ and ‘Blue Homeland’ to be polluted. We aim to leave pristine seas and a clean environment for future generations,” said Minister Özhaseki.
### Seas Belong to the People: Ensuring Public Access to Coastal Areas
One of the first initiatives to be implemented is the “Seas Belong to the People Project,” which advocates for public access to the nation’s seas and tackles illegal constructions on coastlines. “We have sent a directive to our provincial governors declaring that ‘The coasts are state property’ in accordance with our Constitution. We are establishing the Environment-Sea WhatsApp Hotline to engage citizens actively in this process,” announced Minister Özhaseki. He also revealed plans to open at least one public beach in each of the 28 coastal provinces, with a target of establishing 100 public beaches within a year. “We, as the Ministry, stand with our people. We envision a Turkey where every citizen can easily access the coast,” he added.
### Mooring Buoy Project: Protecting Coastal Ecosystems
The “Mooring Buoy Project” is set to rejuvenate Turkey’s seas and shores by protecting Special Environmental Protection Areas from damage caused by boats. “We are launching the ‘Mooring Buoy Project’ to safeguard our coastlines and coves from the damage inflicted by boats. Göcek Bay has been selected as the pilot region, where we will install 700 mooring buoys,” stated Minister Özhaseki. He mentioned the development of a mobile application to manage boat docking schedules and waste disposal, with a plan to expand the system nationwide by April 2025. “By 2026, we will have secured all our protected areas, ensuring a Turkey where ecosystems and marine life thrive,” he noted.
### Deposit Information System: Advancing Zero Waste Initiatives
The third project, “Deposit Information System,” addresses public concerns about recycling. “Our citizens wanted a convenient and reliable way to return recyclable waste. With the Deposit Information System, we will initially include PET, glass, and aluminum drink containers ranging from 0.1 to 3 liters. This project, coordinated by the Turkish Environmental Agency, aims to incorporate 20 billion single-use containers into the recycling loop annually,” explained Minister Özhaseki. He further detailed the operation of the system, where users can deposit containers in specified machines and receive refunds via e-wallets or printed receipts.
Minister Özhaseki highlighted the economic and environmental benefits, including annual gains of 120 million euros from recovered materials and 250 million euros from raw material savings. “Our goal is to establish 30,000 deposit machines in populous locations such as universities, municipalities, markets, and parks by mid-2025,” he concluded.