Studies on National Climate Change Communication Strategy, which will be prepared to determine the framework of communication activities to be carried out until 2023 in the field of Climate Change and Adaptation, started in Ankara.

Preparatory work for the National Climate Change Communication Strategy document, which will be written in order to inform the target groups about climate change, which is the biggest problem of the era, to take solution steps and to support the national targets of fight against climate change set by official documents, has started. A group of 70 people representing the public, private sector, universities and NGOs participated in the preparatory work.

The Strategy Document to be prepared within the scope of the IklimIN Project carried out by Turkish Republic Ministry of Environment and Urbanization within the framework of financial cooperation between European Union and Turkey will be an official document and determine the direction of the studies to be carried out in the field of Climate Change until 2023.

Within the scope of the National Climate Change Communication Strategy Preparations, representatives working in the public, NGO, private sector and in the field of climate, and having different knowledge, experience and perspectives met on Friday, December 20 in Ankara and made a workshop. Within the scope of the workshop, the main areas and sectors involved in climate change and adaptation, and priority issues and target groups related to these areas were determined. At the end of the study, evaluations were made on the dimensions of communication activities related to the target groups determined.

We Reached 5 Million People with IklimIN Project

Ömer Öztürk, R&D and Implementation Branch Manager of the Department of Climate Change and Adaptation of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, gave information about the projects and works carried out by the Ministry. Explaining that the number of people reached through grant projects and training activities within the scope of the “IklimIN Project” reached one million, Öztürk stated that they determined the number of people reached through the billboards, Internet advertisements and public service announcements with the communication campaign realized within the scope of the project. Expressing his satisfaction that the works of the National Climate Change Strategy Document, of which preparatory work has started, have been prepared with the efforts of the public, private sector, NGO and all interested parties, Öztürk said that the works will end in February 2020.

Fight for Climate will be Financed by the EU

Giving the good news about grant support of 7 million Euro to be carried out within the framework of financial cooperation between European Union and Turkey in order to finance the studies on climate change, Öztürk told that the applications can be made in 2020 through the official website of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and the iklimin.org.

Strategy Document will Lead up the Joint Studies

Speaking during the event, Dr. Nuran Talu, Senior Climate Policy Advisor underlined the importance of inter-mass communication in fight against climate change. Emphasizing the importance of speaking the same language to collaborate on a multi-layered subject such as climate change, Talu said, “We visited many Anatolian cities during the trainings held within the scope of the IklimIN Project. This need was frequently expressed during those trainings.”Talu underlined that it is the first time that a communication study has been carried out in the field of climate change in Turkey on a national scale, stating that she believes that these studies will also support local efforts. Stating that local administrators and the persons of influence should establish a healthy communication especially for big cities to be resistant to climate, Talu said, “Although a significant part of the society in Turkey is aware of climate change, a healthy climate literacy is needed while fighting in this area. Starting today, I think communication practices will accelerate in every related field.

We Should Talk about the Climate Every Day

Faculty Member of Eskişehir Anadolu University Prof. Dr. Nezih Orhon, who moderated the workshop, stated that the issue of climate should be discussed and talked about at any time and every day. Orhon said “To think plainly, let us talk about the climate on Monday and Tuesday, think about the climate on Wednesday and Thursday, and take action with our children, elder people, women, disabled individuals and all our people in the countryside and the city on Friday and weekends.”