Director of Climate Change Prof. Halil Hasar took part in the 2nd Awareness-Raising Conference held in İzmir under the Enhancing Adaptation Action in Türkiye Project.

07 March 2025

Director of Climate Change Prof. Halil Hasar took part in the 2nd Awareness-Raising Conference held in İzmir under the Enhancing Adaptation Action in Türkiye Project. Jointly organized by the Directorate of Climate Change and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the main theme “Climate Change and Biodiversity: Investing in the Future through Nature-Based Solutions,” the conference brought together a wide range of stakeholders.

Joining the event online, Hasar emphasized in his opening remarks that extreme weather events, rising temperatures, droughts, and floods are having severe impacts on both ecosystems and human life worldwide. “The impacts of climate change are not limited to melting glaciers or rising sea levels. Its destructive effects on biodiversity threaten the health of our planet and, consequently, human well-being,” said Hasar.

Pointing out that biodiversity constitutes the core element that ensures ecosystems remain healthy and functional, Hasar continued: “Many vital services—such as climate change adaptation, carbon sequestration, regulation of the water cycle, soil fertility, and even food security—depend on biodiversity. However, climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and the excessive use of resources are rapidly eroding biodiversity. This, in turn, is weakening the resilience of ecosystems to climate change.”

Addressing nature-based solutions, which aim to protect, restore, and manage natural ecosystems in a sustainable manner in the context of combating and adapting to climate change, Hasar made the following remarks:

“Bringing nature-based solutions into play in the fight against climate change is essential.”

Biodiversity and ecosystem services play a vital role not only in preserving natural balance but also in enabling humankind to build a secure future. This is precisely where bringing nature-based solutions into play becomes essential. International policy frameworks and legislation, such as the European Union’s 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, provide guidance in this field. Our 2024–2030 Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan supports biodiversity-based approaches.

“Climate change is profoundly affecting biodiversity”

Protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services is not only an environmental necessity but also an economic and social imperative. In this regard, both the public and private sectors must step up investment in nature-based solutions. As decision-makers at the local and national levels, we must put policies that protect ecosystems into practice. Let us not forget that nature always offers solutions. What we must do is protect it and learn to live in harmony with it.”

The conference brought together representatives from governmental agencies, municipalities, universities, the private sector, and civil society organizations and featured in-depth discussions on “Nature-Based Solutions”, “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Steps for the Future and Türkiye’s Role”, “Strengthening the Adaptation Capacity of Biodiversity in Türkiye”, and “Preparing Local Climate Change and Biodiversity Action Plans”.