Turkey can largely wean itself off coal through rational and long-term measures. Why a comprehensive study has not been carried out is another question. But the scarcity of studies like this is quite common. For example, a smart cistern can save up to a quarter or third of the water you’d otherwise use to flush. Yet we’ve made no studies on the cost of installing a smart cistern and how much water it would save, not even a rough calculation of cost vs. benefit. The same is true for sensor taps in high usage areas, where it’s possible to save up to half as much water. Clearly, we need to consider consumption as well. Look around you at night, the whole city is ablaze with lights! Do we really need such dazzling illumination?
FA
HP
In the report you mentioned, wasn’t that calculated at all?
FA
Greenpeace has a study.
HP
Greenpeace issued the Energy (R)evolution report in 2015[5], and the Istanbul Policies Centre published the Report on Low Carbon Development Plans and Priorities for Turkey[6]. The latter includes some calculations by Erinç Yeldan that conclude it’s possible to achieve a 20 percent drop in carbon emissions. Perhaps they’re worth a look. At least as a starting point.
5. Energy (R)evolution Turkey’s Prospects of Sustainable Energy [in Tr.] http://www.greenpeace.org/turkey/Global/turkey/report/2015/Enerji%20%5bD%5devrimi.pdf
6. Report on Low Carbon Development Plans and Priorities for Turkey [in Tr.] http://ipc.sabanciuniv.edu/new/turkiye-icin-dusuk-karbonlu-kalkinma-yollari-ve-oncelikleri-raporu/
BE
I’d like to move on to what the private sector can do. You refer to Morocco; there are other examples, too, among them Chile and Uruguay. They may not be the biggest players around, but as role models they are incredibly useful. I wish Turkey were among them. If Turkey were a leader in energy or sustainability, if it could join the leaders in basing technological development and power needs on renewable sources, it would create enormous benefits for business economically, in terms of sustainability, and even with respect to international prestige. This might well be a point that those of us in the private sector ought to consider. How to influence public policy is a much trickier question, because there’s a highly fragmented stakeholder structure: There’s a great variety of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) working on sustainability or energy, but there’s little coordination among them, if any at all. Although their aims are parallel, they’re working separately on separate platforms. They’re not coordinating or cooperating with the private sector either. To be honest, their approach to the private sector is not all that positive, because they regard the entirety of the private sector as the cause of this problem. Not to mention that the private sector itself is divided. Some embrace these policies, and others oppose them.
FA
Some are going to profit from opposing them.
BE
And that’s the problem, the nastiest side. But it’s not only true for Turkey. Some business areas will suffer due to these climate policies, and they may choose to embrace the view that climate change is a “Chinese hoax.” Other businesses, especially those closer to consumers and susceptible to a backlash, have adopted a more supportive attitude, presumably to create a positive image for themselves. So there’s differentiation in the private sector, too. In that case, which business association should the public sector consult? Who has more leverage? Are NGOs and the private sector represented adequately on existing platforms? As far as we can see, they don’t seem to be. Moreover, companies that are represented don’t seem to care much about climate policies or, if they do, they regard them as damaging to their interests. Seen from this perspective, the private sector doesn’t appear to be a particularly effective or positive force for guiding public policy. What should the private sector do here, do you have any recommendations? Deciding what to do in this area is a top priority for us. I’d really like to hear your thoughts.
FA
The way I see it is this: Even if it’s a very modest effort, even if it’s just at the local level, every step forward is really good and deserves support. That’s how we need to look at it; small steps can snowball into major outcomes. Let’s say I have 300 people in my factory, and I provide them lunch every day. What do I do with the food prep waste and leftovers? Do I throw it away, or do I compost it? What does it cost to do this? So, you might buy and install a composting machine. In the case of street lighting, there are a variety of hybrid options involving solar and wind energy. In short, there are many small steps that can be taken: reducing and recycling waste, creating a greener version of vehicle fleets, etc. The compound effect of these steps can be huge, especially when combined with efforts to create greater public awareness, especially among school age children. Therefore, it would make sense for businesses that are concerned about these issues to look at what they can do themselves on a small scale in addition to lobbying Ankara on climate policy. The effect of composting leftovers from 300 people might be negligible compared to the ecological problems of the world, but still! Such modest steps are very important in my view; plus, they could motivate others to say, “Well, they’re doing it, why aren’t we?” Relationships with neighborhoods and local municipalities are quite important in this context.
I sense a problem in this regard that perhaps a sociologist might be able to explain better: In Turkey, “We do it big, or we don’t do it at all!” Whereas, if we were to start small and see the effect, we’d gain self-confidence. Another point echoes what you said a little earlier: A handful of companies threatened by environmental regulations are able to unite and lobby Ankara. Dozens of others that are concerned about the environment never manage to join forces and influence policy. If only they could increase the effectiveness of existing organizations or create new platforms to defend these policies in Ankara and across the land. I can’t understand, for example, why the tourism industry never says anything worthwhile on this subject even though it’s going to suffer the most from environmental destruction.
BE
They’ve got other things to worry about.
FA
I think two strategies are quite important for the business world. The first is thinking about how you can tidy up your own environment and workplace, even if this is often regarded as romantic or theatrical in Turkey. The second is making a difference in your community if you can, whether it be through the local municipality or the neighborhood school. It’s also necessary to create platforms on general policies, participate in existing platforms, and somehow overcome the split in viewpoints. Some environmental measures will reduce private sector earnings in the short run, but this can change in a longer time frame. What matters is being able to build bridges in order to find a common language. That’s what I think is missing in Turkey. Some conflicts may never be resolved, obviously, but there could at least be constructive dialogue on certain points. What we have in Turkey at the moment, however, is generalized polarization that hinders debate and creates additional tension. I think that forging connections and platforms will encourage those sectors that desire a cleaner world for ethical or business reasons to play a more active role.