Climate change and current measures taken in Turkey as a Mediterranean Country

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Guleda Onkal Engin

Yildiz Technical University, Turkey

: Expert Opin Environ Biol

Abstract

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It was stated in the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that the overall temperature increase in Mediterranean Basin will reach 1-2°C, the drought will be felt in the wider regions and the number of heat waves and extreme hot days will increase especially in inlands. Similar statements are included in the First National Communication Report of Turkey on Climate Change. After being a party to the UNFCCC in May 24, 2004, Turkey has prepared the national Strategic Plans (2010-2020), the National Action Plans and the Compliance Plans with technical support from the related governmental agencies and civil society organizations to build and strengthen necessary infrastructure in order to compete against the effects of climate change. Beside these works on documentation, several studies have been carried out in order to fight the disasters caused by climate change in Turkey. One of them is UN Joint Program (2008- 2011) on Capacity Development for Turkey's Adaptation to Climate Change. Within the scope of UN Joint Program the Seyhan River Basin Climate Change Adaptation Grant Program was launched in 2009 and 18 projects have been implemented. It can be said that the scientific studies on climate change in Turkey have initiated only recently. However, a number of studies on climate change impacts on water resources in Turkey were published. In addition to these studies, an EU project titled as Climate Induced Changes on the Hydrology of Mediterranean Basins: Reducing Uncertainty and Quantifying Risk through an Integrated Monitoring and Modeling System (CLIMB) was launched in 2010. An analysis of climate change impacts on available water resources is undertaken in selected study sites including Izmit Bay catchment in Turkey. It can be said that, Turkey, as a Mediterranean country, is aware of the reality of the climate change and has started necessary actions for effective use and conservation of water resources. These studies are carried out both in the field of legislation and in the direction of encouraging the scientific studies. All these efforts are of importance for future use of the limited water resources.

Biography

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Guleda Onkal Engin is a Professor at Yildiz Technical University (Istanbul, Turkey). She joined YTU in 2012 and since September 2012 she is acting as the Head of the Department. Prior to joining the YTU, she was working at Gebze Institute of Technology in the Environmental Engineering Department. She obtained her PhD in Chemical and Process Engineering Department from the Imperial College, London. She has led a number of national and international projects in the area of advanced wastewater treatment and climate change effects on water resources. She is the author/co-author of more than 50 articles.

Email: gengin@yildiz.edu.tr