In Turkey, fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and petrol are mostly used in energy production. This plays a primary role in air pollution. According to the data of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the shere of coal and gas power plants in electricity generation in 2023 is 57.7 percent. According to the "Black Report 2024" of the Right to Clean Air Platformn of Turkey (THHP), the provinces of Colemêrg (Hakkari), Şirnex (Şırnak), Êlih (Batman), Meletî (Malatya), Mereş (Maraş), Adana, Osmaniye, Dîlok (Antep), Kilis and Aydın are among the first in air pollution. According to the report, nearly 70 thousand people died in Turkey in 2022 due to diseases caused by air pollution. 

 

70 THOUSAND DEATHS EVERY YEAR

 

Speaking about the causes and effects of air pollution, THHP Coordinator Deniz Gümüşel said that parciles released into the atmosphere due to the use of fossil fuels cause cancer and lung diseases. Deniz Gümüşel noted that the effects of air pollution are not only limited to adults, but also cause the nervous system to fail to develop in infants and children. "It causes predecease in infants. It affects the development of children. It also has an effect on cardiovascular diseases. Fine particles in cities cause early deaths. As a platform, we calculate deaths every year. We learnt that nearly 70 thousand people lost their lives due to diseases caused by air pollution. Unfortunately, these are preventable deaths," Deniz Gümüşel said. 

 

'THE CLEANEST ENERGY IS THE ENERGY THAT IS NOT USED'

 

Deniz Gümüşel emphasised that the government should make changes in the use of fossil fuels. Pointing out that Turkey is dependent on foreign sources for the supply of fossil fuels, Deniz Gümüşel said: "A total of 13 thermal power plants in the Aegean region alone produce electricity by burning millions of tonnes of coal. The cleanest energy is the energy that is not used. There is no clean energy. If an energy is produced, it has environmental impacts. Although renewable energies have less impact on the environment compared to other types of energy, as I said, the cleanest energy is the energy that is not used."

 

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Deniz Gümüşel said that air pollution mostly affects the labourers working in energy production facilities and the poor living in that region, "Turkey has a clean air action plan but it is not implemented. As the action plans are not implemented, there is no action plan for the industrial facilities that create the main problem. Plans are made in a way that ignores the main problem. First of all, steps must be taken to stop the burning of coal in electricity generation. Industrial facilities should be inspected very strictly. But unfortunately, we see that the Ministry of Environment does not take deterrent measures. The use of individual vehicles should be reduced and public transport should be encouraged," she said. 

 

Stating that the current policies of the government cause the air quality to remain far from international standards, Deniz Gümüşel continued as follows: "Very serious political arrangements need to be made. There must be necessary legislation. Currently, air quality is not measured accurately in places where industrial and energy facilities are located. Industrial air quality measurement tools are required in these regions. If you do not measure something, it is not possible to make efforts to reduce it."