Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Minister Murat Kurum spoke at the "World Habitat Day" hosted by Türkiye. Referring to the fact that this day is a very meaningful day to produce solutions to the problems of cities, the Authority said that they will tell the guests from various countries about Türkiye's green transformation policies.
Minister Murat Kurum participated in the "World Habitat Day" program hosted by Türkiye in Balıkesir. Minister Kurum made a speech at the "City and Civilization Meeting for a Fairer World" event held within the scope of the organization. The event was attended by more than 200 guests from various countries, including Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). In his speech, the Authority mentioned that World Habitat Day is a very valuable and meaningful day in order to solve the basic problems of cities, and stated that they will talk about urban resilience, sustainability, history, art and civilization accumulations in the programs and convey Türkiye's green transformation policies, Zero Waste project, social housing moves and climate-friendly urban transformation studies to the guests.
Stating that the program will be broadcast live in 7 languages in 110 countries, the Minister Kurum said:
"People are the ones who give soul to cities with their lives and give identity and personality to the space. It has always been the man who brought soul to Istanbul, where Yahya Kemal wrote poetry in every district, Samarkand, the center of science and trade, London with its museums and parks, Rome, the cradle of art and the Renaissance, Aleppo, the sultan of song, and Budapest, the pearl of the Danube. Unfortunately, this ancient understanding, which we call 'Mavera, Medina, Shahriyar', has left its place to modern cities with the Industrial Revolution. With the change in production processes and the view of the economy, people have moved away from the center of the city and the economy has taken the soul of the city. The new cities that came with this radical transformation attracted 4.2 billion people like a magnet and caused a modern migration of tribes. We can already predict that by 2050 this rate will rise to two-thirds."
Stating that excessive accumulation and intensive consumption rate caused transportation, housing, environment, air and water pollution problems in cities, the Minister Kurum said, "The world that said 'people are all one life' yesterday has gone and replaced by a world where millions of people are experiencing physical problems and spiritual crises. What a beautiful saying, 'The gracious state will be the shadow of its people if it is left in the sun, it will have a cardigan in the cold, it will have bread in hunger, it will have work in absence, it will be vaccinated at the table'. Based on the meaning contained in this promise, the solution of the problems experienced on a global scale is possible with social housings where a life worthy of human dignity is maintained all over the world, with environmental and climate-friendly urban transformation, with a 'zero waste' culture that embraces all people and is based on savings and compassion." Noting that Mrs. Emine Erdoğan and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres signed a declaration of goodwill for the dissemination of the "Zero Waste Project" in the world, the Authority stated that in this sense, it was promised to support any initiative that promotes zero waste. Thanking Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and those who contributed to the programme, the Minister said they believe in a fairer world.
Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı, who met with young people at the "City and Civilization Meeting for a Fairer World" event as a guest of the program held at Balıkesir Avlu Congress and Culture Center, expressed his appreciation for the initiatives of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. Famous artist Deniz Sağdıç's exhibition titled "Zero Point", which includes works created using recycled materials, received great appreciation from the audience. In the panels held under the headings of "Zero Waste", "City and Civilization", "Green Transformation and Housing Applications" with the participation of experts in the field, ideas for a more livable world were put forward, while the Zero Waste workshops established for tiny "Environmental Inspectors" hosted colorful events.
