Anadolu Agency's Environment Forum Kicks Off In Istanbul

The first Environment Forum organized by Anadolu Agency, Türkiye's leading news provider, kicked off Thursday in Istanbul to raise awareness of the climate crisis and environmental issues.

"Today, we came together to share the need of fighting against the environment and climate crisis from the media perspective with the initiative of Anadolu Agency," said Serdar Karagoz, Anadolu Agency's director-general and chairman, addressing the forum which is being held at Istanbul Renaissance Polat Hotel with the main theme Reshaping the Narrative of Environmental and Climate Crises.

"We face a collective enemy that affects us all regardless of our difference: environment and climate crisis," Karagoz said. "It is not a likely problem that will affect our future, indeed, it is deeply affecting our time."

"As journalists, we cannot stay far away from this matter. 'Reshaping the narrative of environment and climate crisis is not an option for us, it is our responsibility. So, how do we reshape this narrative?" he added.

Noting that Anadolu Agency has been dealing with these questions for a long time, Karagoz said: "After long-lasting discussions, we recently founded Greenline, one of the most comprehensive media platforms narrating environment and climate issues."

"Our main goal is 'remaining responsive' to the world, while nature and the environment are getting destroyed," he added. "Greenline platform reports on climate change, green economy, zero waste, and environment stories from all aspects."

Pointing out that climate journalism should be of the greater importance of all media outlets all over the world, Karagoz said: "As journalists, we not only inform, but also transform the public by revealing man-made disasters behind this crisis."

"From forest fires in Europe to the disappearance of rainforests in the Amazon, we tell the world the tragedy of climate disaster with Greenline platform," he added. "However, we tell not only the tragedy, but also share the stories giving us hope."

Karagoz also highlighted that Environment Forum would become "an excellent focal point to discuss both man-made disasters and hope behind this crisis from the media perspective."

"Journalists, experts, and decision-makers, gathered at the Environment Forum today, will debate on a new narrative on the environment and climate change," he said.

"The forum participants' profiles remind us that these issues concern all of us. From Zimbabwe to Spain, Somalia to Albania, from Norway to Italy, we all came together with the same concern," he noted.

"We hope that the Environment Forum will be a milestone in the steps taken against the climate crisis. We hope that it will contribute to a more livable world," he explained.

Karagoz also noted: "I would like to remind you again that as Anadolu Agency, we do not question the need for action. We do inspire, we do act, we do change. We say 'a word for a better world'."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the opening of the forum via a video message.

Türkiye's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun (via video), along with UNDP Türkiye Resident Representative Louisa Vinton, and Ovais Sarmad, the deputy executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) also addressed the event.

As part of the forum, a session titled Media Responsibility on Climate Change will be moderated by Yusuf Ozhan, Anadolu Agency's deputy director-general and editor-in-chief, under the title of Media Responsibility on Climate Change.

Representatives of many local and foreign NGOs and international organizations, politicians, academics, and journalists are participating in the event which is featuring sessions on Clean Energy for Sustainable Development, The Media's Approach to Natural Disasters, and Climate Crisis and Responsibility Sharing, as well as issues such as climate change, energy, the media's view of climate change and environmental education.

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay and Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change minister Murat Kurum will also address the event.

Türkiye's first lady Emine Erdogan, who has spearheaded the nation's Zero Waste project since 2017, is expected to deliver a closing speech.

The event aims to tackle issues such as the need to create a new media language on environmental and climate issues, international news agencies raising global awareness, the duties of traditional and new media outlets, and the pursuit of environmental awareness in new news areas.

"We aim to redefine the relationship between media and environment by creating a medium for environmental experts to voice their opinions and discuss solutions," according to the forum's website.

Among the forum's international participants are Portugal's former Minister of Europe Bruno Macaes, Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC Ovais Sarmad, CEO and General Director of Italian news agency ANSA Stefano de Alessandri, global climate and environment news editor at Associated Press (AP) Peter Prengaman, climate director of Spain's EFE Agency Arturo Larena.

The Environment Forum can be followed live by registering at its website at environment.aa.com.tr. -