1. How do you assess the long-term effects of climate change on Türkiye and the world?
It is clear that climate change poses a significant long-term threat to Türkiye and the world from social, economic, and environmental perspectives. Climate change is one of the primary underlying causes of disaster risks. According to the United Nations' Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 1.5 billion people worldwide were affected by disasters between 2005 and 2015. On a global scale, the occurrence of extreme weather events, their increasing frequency and severity, rising sea levels, and declining agricultural productivity are expected consequences of climate change.
Among the most significant effects of climate change on Türkiye are a decrease in rainfall leading to water shortages and drought, an increase in forest fires, extreme temperatures, desertification, and a decline in agricultural productivity—resulting in a food crisis. These factors will trigger crises in agriculture, tourism, and the economy, with their impacts becoming more severe over time.
Tourism, in particular, is a highly vulnerable sector, dependent on climate elements such as temperature, precipitation, wind, and humidity. Its popularity relies heavily on favorable climate conditions during the holiday season. The impacts of climate change on tourism include the risk of tourist facilities and beaches being submerged due to rising sea levels, the loss of beach areas due to coastal erosion, an increase in extreme weather events such as floods, storms, and heavy rainfall, desertification, reduced access to clean water sources, and health problems caused by extreme heat.
Given the visibility and urgency of the problem, what steps should we take? First and foremost, Turkey must recognize that it is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change due to global warming and act accordingly. The importance of individual actions should be emphasized, and society must be educated and made aware of global warming and climate change. It is crucial to promote sustainable agriculture, reduce fossil fuel consumption, prioritize the use of renewable energy sources, and emphasize the protection of green areas.
2. What are the primary goals of your political party in addressing climate change?
The DEVA Party aims to develop comprehensive and sustainable policies to combat climate change. The party takes a holistic approach to the issue, offering rational solutions in agriculture, disaster management, and social policies, as well as in climate change mitigation and adaptation. In its action plan, DEVA prioritizes protecting water, air, and soil to ensure the safety of both people and nature.
One of the most striking priorities is combating desertification and erosion. The party focuses on developing a comprehensive strategy to counter Turkey's desertification risk and addressing challenges such as drought, improper land use, and deforestation.
Another key priority in the fight against climate change is disaster management and strengthening local participation to build a disaster-resilient structure.
An equally important focus is the protection of natural resources. This includes the conservation of agricultural lands, forests, and water resources, as well as reassessing mining permits based on their environmental impact to ensure eco-conscious decision-making.
Seda KAYA ÖSEN
Member of Parliament for İzmir, DEVA Party
Who is Seda KAYA ÖSEN?
İzmir – 1979, Mustafa, Fatma Binnur.
He completed his secondary education at İzmir American High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Koç University and a master's degree in European Studies from İzmir University of Economics. He also attended the Tourism Management Certificate Program at Cornell University in the United States.
Between 2001 and 2003, he worked as a brand representative at an advertising agency. He took part in the family business, which operates in the tourism and agriculture sectors.
He served as the Chairman of the Board of the Aegean Young Business People Association (EGİAD), a Board Member of the Turkish Young Businessmen Confederation (TUGİK), a Board Member of the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED), a Member of the İzmir Economic Development Coordination Board, a Member of the İzmir Presidents' Board, and the President of the Board of the Western Anatolia Industrialists and Business People Federation (BASİFED).
He took on the role of Founding Provincial Chairman of the DEVA Party in İzmir.
Kâya Ösen speaks English and Italian. He is married and has one child.
*The interviews published on the www.wpgw.org platform solely reflect the views and opinions of the respective individuals. These statements do not represent the official views of our platform or its editors. Our editors do not make any changes or modifications to the interview texts. Therefore, any legal responsibility arising from the statements made in the interviews rests entirely with the individuals involved, and our platform cannot be held liable.