Turkish government may continue neglecting environment

Significance

Long droughts and longer summers due to climate change are lengthening the wildfire season. Yet wildfires are just one in a series of environmental crises that highlight the growing damage to the country’s environment not just from climate change but also from factors related to government policies.

Impacts

• Prolonged droughts, frequent heatwaves and flash floods are causing severe damage to sensitive ecosystems, agriculture and fishing.
• Turkey is also exposed to the indirect effects of climate change, which contributes to regional conflicts and creates refugees.
• Criminalisation of environmental activism and repression of protests are raising social tensions and contributing to political polarisation.