Climate Change and Our Industry

• 22.08.2017
• Archive

There is a fast increase in the natural disasters resulting from global climate change in the whole world. We come across with natural disaster news affecting societies, humans and economies negatively approximately in each day all around the world.

The effects of the disasters on the human life are increasing gradually. Water crises, food shortage, limited economical growth, migrations and increased security risks resulting from the climate change are coming forefront.

Affecting the nature where we live, the elements of risk which I mentioned to be resulted from the climate change are particular concern to our economy and industry. Rain, storm, hail and flood experienced twice in every other week and caused material damage in July in Istanbul a short time ago showed the seriousness of the climate change to all of us once again. The situation is of vital importance for being discussed in every aspect.

This fact was revealed itself in July Assembly Meeting where we reserved for the subject on global climate change: We frequently focus on the rescue efforts carried out after the disaster when we are told about the disaster management. However, disaster management should be considered as decreasing the risk to the manageable level by foreseeing it. We should adopt more farsighted approach in terms of detecting the risks. We should prioritize taking measures instead of compensating the disasters. Because the cost of compensation is always higher than that of taking measures.

On the other hand, having an awareness that the harm caused by the climate change is not limited to the invoice faced after the disaster is of crucial importance. I especially want to emphasize that we should not fail to notice that the climate change bears consequences affecting the sustainability of our industry, by looking through a wider perspective.

While prioritizing the sustainability in production life, we should clean production understanding which doesn’t make concessions to efficiency and competitive capacity. You can read more about July Assembly Meeting where the effects of climate change has on our industry was touched upon on this issue of our magazine.

As Istanbul Chamber of Industry, we will continue to attach importance to this subject from now onward. I sincerely believe that Istanbul Chamber of Industry which established the first branch named “environment” in Türkiye will make significant contributions with its knowledge and experience concerning the environment and climate for our industrialists.

While completing August with August 30, Victory Day which has a vital place in our history, we are making a beginning to September with blessed Feast of Sacrifice. I commemorate our martyrs with grace and veterans with gratitude in the 95th year of Victory of 30 August won at Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s unique command.

I hope that Blessed Feast of Sacrifice will go well for our country, the whole humanity, us and our families.

Erdal Bahçıvan
Istanbul Chamber of Industry
Chairman