Turkey's Coal Conundrum: Environmental Activists Clash with Government Over Forest Felling

Thousands of villagers and environmental activists have taken to the streets in Turkey to protest the felling of thousands of trees in the Akbelen forest to expand a coal mine. The protesters were met with a heavy police response, including tear gas and water cannon, resulting in numerous arrests. The episode highlights the Turkish government's continued support for coal mines and coal-fired power plants, despite the well-documented harm they cause to air quality and the climate crisis. The government's plans to enable new coal mining and maintain 37 coal-fired power plants, including two near the Akbelen forest, raises questions about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's commitment to clean air and addressing the climate crisis.

Key Takeaways:

• The Turkish government has approved further coal mining in the Akbelen forest area to keep two coal-fired power plants operating, despite their history of negative environmental impacts.
• The two power plants have been operating for decades and have been found to operate in violation of national environmental regulations.
• Experts have raised concerns that the plants may be operating without adequate pollutant filtration systems in the majority of their units.
• The Turkish government has ratified the Paris Agreement and announced that it will be carbon neutral by 2053, but has not announced a timeline to stop using coal.
• Turkey is one of four European countries, alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, and Serbia, that has not stated when it will stop using coal.
• The Turkish government's plans to enable new coal mining and maintain 37 coal-fired power plants raises concerns about President Erdogan's commitment to clean air and addressing the climate crisis.

Statistics:

• 37 coal-fired power plants are licensed to run in Turkey, with some operating until the 2060s.
• 2 coal-fired power plants near the Akbelen forest have been operating for decades and are among the oldest in Turkey.
• The Akbelen forest is facing felling to expand a coal mine, despite the government's stated commitment to clean air and the climate crisis.
• Turkey ratified the Paris Agreement in 2021 and aims to be carbon neutral by 2053.

Sources:

• Global Data Point, 2022
• European Court of Human Rights (cases against coal-fired power plants)
• Turkish government (coal mining and power plant operations)
• International commitments (Paris Agreement)