Turkish expert: Climate crisis cannot be left only to politicians

Renowned Turkish expert in economy, author of 26 books on economics, PhD Mahfi Egilmez has said that attempts by countries to develop their economies at the expense of environmental protection principles could have disastrous consequences for humanity as a whole.

Commenting on the significance of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, the economist highlighted the rapid pace of global economic growth, noting that over the past 23 years, the global GDP has tripled, reaching a total of $105.4 trillion, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"Irrational use of resources and uncontrolled emissions into the environment are detrimental to both nature and humanity. Rising global temperatures are linked to desertification, deforestation, glacial melting, droughts, abnormal temperature patterns, and a reduction in biodiversity," the expert stated, acknowledging that environmental measures are often unpopular in developing countries.

“To date, at least half of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the Northern Hemisphere, particularly from China, the US, Europe, and India,” Egilmez said.

He noted that Türkiye ranks among the top 20 countries in the world in terms of atmospheric pollution from greenhouse gases, and due to its geographic location, the country is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.  

The expert drew attention to scientific assessments indicating that the negative effects of climate change will be most acutely felt by the residents of Türkiye’s Mediterranean region, as well as in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia.

He also emphasised the importance of collective action by the international community on climate issues, noting that several countries have not ratified the Paris Agreement yet. 

"Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen have not signed this agreement yet. Iran is particularly significant, as it, like Türkiye, is among the top 20 countries for air pollution," Egilmez said.

He also highlighted the pivotal role of the US in advancing the climate agenda.

"If, during his second term, Donald Trump decides to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement again, the already challenging task of implementing its provisions will become even more difficult," the expert warned. 

Egilmez expressed confidence that environmental issues are so important and widespread that they "cannot be left only to the discretion of politicians."

"Solving this crisis must involve the public and ordinary citizens," he added.

COP29, taking place at Baku Stadium from November 11 to 22, marks a significant milestone for Azerbaijan as the country hosts a Conference of the Parties (COP) for the first time. COP29 has reached a significant agreement on climate finance, with a commitment to allocate $250 billion annually until 2035. This decision was confirmed in a statement released by the COP29 chairmanship on November 22.

The statement outlined that the COP29 Chairmanship had worked throughout the year to establish a fair and ambitious climate finance target, focusing on the needs and priorities of developing nations. An extensive and inclusive consultation process, which continued into the early hours of the morning, allowed all parties to contribute to the package of texts released the previous day. The chairmanship expressed gratitude for the constructive participation of all groups involved.

By Naila Huseynova