Issue: 50
With a vast experience of more than 33 years including over 16 years within the UN System, Najam expressed his commitment to work with the Turkish government, civil society and other development partners to increase UN-Turkey cooperation focusing primarily on expanding the development choices of the poor and marginalized segments and on the attainment of Millennium Development Goals.
Najam, a national of Pakistan, has to his credit; four Masterates including Masters of Law and MSc. Public Policy from London School of Economics and Political Science, London UK and MSc. Rural Development a joint programme of Wye College London. During the course of his career, he has been extensively involved at the leadership positions in the field of policy formulation and analysis; development of strategic plans and programs; formulation, implementation and monitoring of projects and work plans; resource mobilization and management; and disaster management and relief operations. Some high level positions with the Government of Pakistan held by Najam included Commissioner, Lahore Division and Chief Operating Officer, Punjab Board of Investment and Trade.
Shahid Najam has served in various capacities in the UN system, including FAO Representative, Chief Decentralization Support Service and Deputy FAO Representative in Tanzania.
His major contribution included formulation and management of large development programmes in the economic and social sectors including 5 years joint FAO-Iran National Medium Term Priority Framework in the agriculture sector; specifically targeted programs for poverty alleviation, income generation and urban and rural development; development of community based and managed "Model villages" in the poverty stricken rural areas and "Model Wards" in the poor urban slums; the design and implementation of the new decentralized governance system in Pakistan involving delegation, devolution and deconcentration of power in favour of the elected representatives at local level; and establishment of Investment Promotion Agency for the province of Punjab in Pakistan.
He speaks English, French and Urdu and is reasonably well conversant with Farsi.
Carbon, just like any other commodity, is being tracked and traded for some time now. A workshop on State’s Vision and Role on Carbon Project Mechanisms was held in Ankara in January to discuss the possible paths Turkey could take to become a major player in global carbon markets during the new climate regime.
Organized in the scope of Capacity Building for Climate Change Management in Turkey project, the workshop featured presentations by UNDP consultants Amit Bando, Malik Amin Aslam as well as legal consultant for carbon projects, Nursel Atar. Both Bando and Aslam who were in Turkey to facilitate the creation of framework for positioning Turkey firmly in the global carbon marketplace, underlined the unique opportunity the country has in being at the right place at the right time and take advantage of existing uncertainties that have come about as a result of the unraveling of the Kyoto Regime.
Attended by approximately 60 participants, the workshop was mainly for public institutions such as Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU Secretariat General and Undersecretariat of Treasury and for other stakeholders including Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and Board of Capital Markets of Turkey. . In his opening speech, Mustafa Şahin, Head of Air Management Department from Ministry of Environment and Forestry, emphasized the need for capacity building in Turkey in terms of carbon trading. Sedat Kadıoğlu, Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry stressed that there is a need for legislative action in Turkey and he announced that a climate change department has been established within the Ministry including a carbon trading focused division. UNDP Turkey Deputy Resident Representative Ulrika Richardson-Golinski said that carbon trading mechanism creates new opportunities for private sector and creates new jobs. She thanked State Planning Organization (SPO) for providing major funds to the project, , to Ministry of Environment and Forestry for their valuable partnership and also to the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) for their contributions to the project.
What is needed in Turkey?
Volkan Ediger, Energy Advisor to the President of Turkey who was the moderator of the discussion outlined the needs of Turkey in carbon trading as follows:
International expert on carbon markets Amit Bando briefed the participants on carbon projects registry systems and international carbon regulations. Pointing to the fact that only non-Annex I parties are eligible for Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM), which form a staggering 95% of the carbon market. He emphasized that until the new climate regime arrives, CDM market mechanisms can only be used as examples for Turkey since Turkey is an Annex I country and not eligible for the mentioned flexible mechanisms. He also stressed the necessity of a legal support system as operations of carbon markets should rely on transparent and systematic process. Bando also exemplified different types of registry systems and said that the best way to choose a registry system was to have an open platform to share ideas mentioning that most registries in the world are publicly operated.
The lack of a common registry system in Turkey led to a disagreement in the number of carbon projects in the country which highlighted the need for common action as recognized by all participants.
An international expert specializing in carbon finance policy Malik Amin Aslam mainly talked about regulations and designated national authority structures. Previously the State Minister for Environmental Affairs in Pakistan, Aslam gave examples of carbon trading from his own country. When the Prime Minister realized that the revenue from one carbon project was more than the total budget of the Ministry of Agriculture, Aslam decided to establish a committee to work on necessary regulations and mechanisms to be established and headed the committee himself.
International experts answered the questions asked by New Horizons:
In expressing their first impressions about the Turkey’s carbon market, Bando and Aslam said they were impressed with the private sector’s proactive approach and knowledge in the field, however, both agreed that more work is needed to ensure the establishment of the required mechanisms in the public sector and the government. According to Bando, the private sector in Turkey is active. He believes that “this is encouraging from a capacity building perspective because it indicates that they don’t really need a lot of help. They also know their issues and their shortcomings and they seem to know the gaps in the system so they’re very specific about what they think is needed to move forward.” On the flipside however, Bando also argues though the government counterparts have a general understanding of carbon-related issues, they need more direction and guidance to create a full-fledged authority in dealing with carbon trading.
An economic expert in the area of clean technologies, Bando explained the various registry systems in the carbon marketplace from which Turkey can take examples. The country’s unique situation where it is listed among developed countries under Annex I of the UNFCCC while being a country which does not have quantified emission reduction commitment, “makes it difficult to identify with any specific set of guidelines”. This difficulty, however, is also identified as one of Turkey’s biggest opportunities in that the country is currently a blank canvas which can learn from the experiences of others. As technical expert Aslam puts it, “The carbon marketplace has been out there for some time and Turkey is in a position to learn from what other countries did and which ones worked and which ones did not”. Instead of “reinventing the wheel”, Turkey which operates in the voluntary carbon market defined by a lack of regulatory drivers, has to take existing guidelines from other countries operating in compliance markets and implement them so as to acquire a stronger standing in the carbon marketplace.
One of the three market-based mechanisms to contribute to emission reduction efforts outlined in the Kyoto Protocol, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), may be a guiding model for Turkey in acquiring this position, as Bando suggested during his presentation. The CDM allows emission-reduction (or emission removal) projects in developing countries to earn certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one ton of CO2. CER credits are high in demand as they are four times as valuable as a credit traded in the voluntary credit market. The market is currently dominated by China, India and Brazil and heavily backed by government infrastructure making it comparatively stable against the voluntary carbon markets occupied 70-80% by Turkey.
Given the perplexity of the carbon market, Bando and Aslam agree that UNDP can be most beneficial in orienting the messages through media and outreach campaigns to raise awareness of what is being done in Turkey to strengthen its place in the carbon market. Bando adds “the beneficiaries need to know what kind of a framework or institution is being suggested, what this new structuring will bring and how it will operate”. Secondly, he draws attention to the fact that currently only a limited number of departments within the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources are involved actively in the process related to the carbon markets but involvement of other ministries such as Foreign Affairs is also vital for awareness activities. Bando stresses the fact that Turkey’s place in the carbon market place is not “merely a climate issue” but a “national issue in terms of growth, employment, accession to the EU and other social and economic issues”.
Similar to a commodities market, carbon trading is a mechanism to regulate the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. The carbon markets go back to the Kyoto Protocolwhich was adopted in 1997 and ratified by over 189 countries and EU, including Turkey. The legally binding protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Setting binding targets for 38 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the Protocol resulted in the re-evaluation of the consumption of carbon intensive products and services and energy production in terms of energy efficiency. While the more lenient United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change,and encourages industrialized countries to stabilize GHG emissions, the Protocol commits them to do so.
Turkey’s carbon efforts may be balanced through Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs). Aslam says that a NAMA is “basically a voluntary action where a country decides on its own appropriate mitigation actions and reports them to the UNFCCC”. Turkeys target to increase share of renewables by 2023 in the national energy resources mix would be a good candidate for NAMA.
Carbon trading is here to stay
“The rules of the international climate regime may keep changing however, the instrument of choice would still be carbon trading” concludes Aslam Khan when asked what his predictions are in terms of carbon markets in the future. Outlining the two major uncertainties in Turkey as the lack of regulations to govern carbon trading at the national level, and its special circumstances at the international level, Aslam Khan stresses the vibrancy Turkey brings to voluntary carbon markets and applauds the private sector’s efforts in diving into such ambiguities. Seeing this as an important opportunity, Aslam Khan says that the private sector can cater to uncertainties and make Turkey an important player in the international climate regime.
To view Amit Bando's Carbon Project Registry Systems and International Carbon Market Regulations presentation, please click here.
To view Malik Amin Aslam's presentation CDM & JI Regulations/Project Cycles & DNA Structures please click here.
To view Project Legal Advisor Nursel Atar's presentation on Terms which may affect the Carbon Market in Turkey (Turkish), please click here.
Please click here for State Planning Organization's İzzet Arı's Voluntary Emissions Trading Outcomes presentation.
Three prominent grant receiving projects during the first term are the recently completed Small Town Muğla and the Invisible Konya project as well as the ongoing Crafts on Stands with Young Hands project in Kocaeli.
The Small Town Muğla project showcased an art exhibition representing the architecture of the province. The exhibition hosted miniature models of 6 historical buildings in Muğla and 24 oil paintings. 45 young men and women from the Faculty of Technical Education of the University of Muğla and regional technical high schools participated in this project. Allowing the project team to craft pieces of art for the exhibition, the project also contributed to the enhancement of team work and social networking skills. The Small Town Muğla project is expected to become a permanent exhibition in the city of Muğla, re-establishing its architectural heritage.
The Invisible Konya project, aiming to include internal migrants into the fabric of Konya’s social life by introducing the city’s culture and history to young women and men between 15-20 years of age who have had to migrate to Konya has organized the Konya Provinces Get Together festival on the first week of November. The festival which took place at the city center hosted introductions of surrounding provinces home to internal migrants by young women and men to those living in the city center. The project helped build stronger friendship ties and communications between the migrants living in provinces and learn from each others’ experiences.
Crafts on Stands with Young Hands project is still continuing in Kocaeli. Mother of six, 24 year old Filiz Eroğlu who had heard about the world renowned Hereke carpets before, said she signed up for the Crafts on Stands with Young Hands project after seeing it on a small brochure. Developing the entrepreneurship skills of young girls and women who internally migrated to Kocaeli, the project is training 25 young women in carpet weaving. Participants attended the four month training sessions at the Hereke Carpets and Silk Textiles Factory and Public Education Center and learned how to weave the famous Hereke carpet, which once decorated palaces. With the Crafts on Stands with Young Hands project, young girls and women not only produce intricately detailed carpets but learn how to stand on their own feet and make a living of their own. Now a certified carpet weaver, Filiz had a few words to share with her peers. “Young people must do what they love doing, I wanted to make carpets. I advise other young women and men to stop doing nothing and produce things to increase their self-worth” she said. Aside from providing skills and employment opportunities to the young women, the project also restored the traditional Turkish Hereke carpets soon to have disappeared from the cultural rhetoric otherwise. Next on the agenda is the establishment of a new company specializing in manufacturing Hereke carpets, creating further employment opportunities for the 25 new carpet weavers.
The second term of grant applications for the S-UN Fund for Youth is continuing in Adana, Balıkesir and Kocaeli. The deadline for applications is 26 February 2010.
Swiss-UNDP Fund for Youth is a grant and technical assistance programme that has been implemented by the General Directorate of Youth and Sports, and UNDP. As a direct response to support Turkish Government’s efforts to support social integration of young people, the Fund was entrusted to UNDP by the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency.
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Within the framework of the UN Joint Programme Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change Capacity in Turkey the Adaptation to Climate Change in the Seyhan River Basin Grant Programme is paving the way for the implementation of new projects that will improve the capacity of inhabitants and institutions of the river basin in adapting to climate change.
18 out of the 150 project proposals submitted in the fields of fisheries, animal husbandry and forestry were selected. While the long term objectives include enhancing the capacity to adapt to climate change and awareness raising, 12 projects in Adana, 4 in Kayseri and 2 in Niğde, aim to improve agricultural techniques, secure food supplies, determine flood risks, use alternative irrigation techniques and prevent sea levels from rising.
Within the context of the Grant programme, local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic communities and other related groups were asked to submit proposals until June 14, 2009 under the infrastructural headings of agriculture and food security, water resources and quality, public health, disaster risk management, management of the river basin and shores, management of natural resources, and infrastructure. Proposals were evaluated based on 28 criteria under the titles of the capacity of the organization applying, the suitability of the subject proposed, method, impact and sustainability. At the end of the evaluation projects which implemented innovative compliance methods, developed adjustment capacity and concentrated on the social, environmental and economic dimensions of the adaptation to climate change took precedence.
Based on three interlinked long-term goals, the grant programme focuses on mitigating the negative effects of climate change, while taking maximum advantage of the positive effects of climate change and securing the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In addition to being one of the priorities of the Joint Programme, the first goal is to contribute to the mitigation of the risks of climate change in the process of achieving MDGs. The second goal aims to determine priorities in climate risk management and take adaptation precautions for the development of the capacity of adjustment. Reinforcing the first two goals, the third goal encourages the implementation of sustainable development policies in accordance with climate risks and adaptation requirements. While developing the Seyhan River Basin’s capacity to adapt to climate change, the goals will create new social and institutional perspectives to the area through providing support to innovative adaptation activities in the area.
Contrary to the management of greenhouse gases which fall under international policies, adaptation to climate change - based largely on geography, the area’s development and human resources in the area – presents a topic that should be covered regionally and locally. Adaptation requires timely and accurate changes and modifications to reduce the negative effects of climate change, especially for the poorer sections of society. Taking center stage in combating the inevitable effects of climate change, adaptation not only presents opportunities in regulating economic activities in highly sensitized sectors like agriculture based on natural resources, forestry and animal husbandry but also in supporting sustainable development in changing climate conditions.
Following the scientific world, international political platforms are also looking for solutions to reduce the effects of climate change manifesting themselves in increasing temperatures, droughts, forest fires, rising sea levels, increased outbreaks of disease, extinction of species, damages to ecosystems, the rise of climate migration among others. Despite the difference in opinion among countries and solutions offered, the 2009 Copenhagen summit revealed once again that climate change and climate change adaptation need to be addressed at a global level. It appears likely that these issues will remain on the global political agenda in 2010 and perhaps in years following. Societies need to take concrete steps in order to cope with unusual climate conditions and the uncertain future ahead.
Launched in 2008, Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change Capacity in Turkey UN Joint Programme was developed in partnership with the Ministry Environment and Forestry with the foresight that the achievement of the MDGs will fall under risk caused by climate change. The Joint Programme run by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) consists of goals and activities to manage climatic risks, develop human resources, scientific research and a political framework to ensure that the poorest are least affected by climate change and a grant programme to demonstrate that precautions against climate change can be applied at the local level.
Projects supported under the Adaptation to Climate Change in the Seyhan River Basin Grant Programme are:
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In the framework of the climate change adaptation strategy, Participatory Vulnerability Analysis Workshops were organized in 11 different provinces (Tekirdağ, Trabzon, Kastamonu, Kars, Sivas, Şanlıurfa, Van, Antalya, Eskişehir, Samsun and İzmir) which for the first time measured the effects of climate change with local knowledge and observations. All the data collected from the workshops, will be used in the national climate change adaptation strategy development process.
At the Participatory Vulnerability Analysis Workshops held in 11 provinces from November 2009 to January 2010, climate change related changes were observed and identified. By determining who, how, when and with what frequency people are affected, the necessary political, legislative and local practices measures that need to be taken were laid out.
Among the objectives of these workshops were: identifying previous effects of climate change to battle them on a local level; examine the productivity of relevant sectors, namely agriculture with regards to climate change; discuss the sustainability levels of ecosystem services and other natural resources while measuring the level of preparedness for natural disasters like flooding caused by climate change.
Aside from increasing awareness about the effects of climate change amongst local institutions, efforts taken on by these local institutions to combat climate change were evaluated.
While the 11 provinces were selected to represent all 7 regions in Turkey, other factors such as the province’s water and agricultural basin, level of impact affectability in different climate scenarios, the ability of relevant ministries to enter local service areas, the amount of climate change projects in the province, integrity with coastal areas, the presence of regional directorates of Development Agencies, government-related technology development centers and research institutes, the Turkish Statistical Institution, and the Ministries of Transport, Health, Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the presence of a metropolitan municipality or a prominent regional municipality, the presence of water and waste management units, universities and NGOs were taken into account.
Water shortages’ mainly affected indicators of climate change such as increasing temperatures, decreased precipitation and flooding, not only negatively impacts human life, but also takes its toll on many sectors such as agriculture based industry, tourism, transportation, energy and health.
With these consequences in mind, “Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change UN Joint Programme” was commenced in 2008 to develop necessary strategies to ensure adaptation to the impacts of climate change in Turkey. The project aims to develop a strategy to adapt and combat the effects of climate change In the scope of the Joint Programme, efforts have been accelerated to formulate Turkey’s national strategy for adapting to climate change.
Seeing that the doors of social life from swimming pools to discos and sports fields are wide open to the disabled in Germany; the President of the Alternative Life Association (AYDER), Ercan Tutal, led the way in including the disabled in Turkey, whom we often assume are invisible and exclude with our prejudices to all areas of socially life. We interviewed Ercan Tutal on the types of dreams the academy plans to make come true in the future.
Happy anniversary to the Dreams Academy! What is the general situation for disabled youth in Turkey? What kind of challenges do they face? What kind of efforts are in place to overcome these challenges?
Disabled and socially disadvantaged individuals cannot get enough education and therefore have more difficulty entering the workforce. Environmental and architectural miscalculations also make it more difficult for these individuals to leave their home and participate in social life.
The Dreams Academy is giving culture and arts education to disabled and socially disadvantaged youth to overcome these two fundamental problems. All of these trainings are directed towards the inclusion of young people in the workforce. In this respect, the Social Inclusion Band performs concerts with socially sensitive musicians. We also have a theatre community formed with the same goals. Rehearsals are continuing to produce plays that are completely suitable for disabled people. Moreover, at the end of each term, parties which receive high interest from workshop attendees take place at the most important entertainment venues in Istanbul.
How did the academy, which made the dreams of more than 300 disabled young people come true in only a year, evolve and what are its primary goals?
The Dreams Academy project is a project developed with the Alternative Life Association which has over 10 years of experience with disabled and socially disadvantaged youth. Along with continuing projects that focus on sports like ‘Diving is Freedom’ and the Alternative Camp, we also wanted to turn towards projects about art which should be a part of everyone’s life. As a result, the Dreams Academy was born to provide disabled and socially disadvantaged youth with free arts education which allows them to then participate in the workforce in this area, in short transforming each participant into an “artist.”
The primary goal of Dreams Academy is to use art to end social exclusion and allow disabled individuals to be active and productive. Moreover, we can list the participation in the solution for unemployment by making it easier for the disabled individuals with developed skills and talent to find jobs, provide project beneficiaries with equal term relationships with the skills they gained and the experiences they can use in social areas and hence develop the self esteem of the individuals.
In the first year of Dreams Academy held many activities to support the social inclusion of socially disadvantaged youth such as personal development, life coaching and Social Inclusion Band concerts. With that, Handicapped Week was celebrated like never before in May with Dreams Academy instructors and participants and Ortaköy Square. What kinds of changes were observed in the lives of disabled youth with these projects? Can you share with us your success stories?
Dreams Academy has accomplished many success stories in a year. For example, every student in Social Inclusion Band is a success story on their own…
A couple of students that have never received any training or education on rhythm joined the Dreams Academy rhythm workshop. We soon realized their talents for rhythm and hence started the Social Inclusion Band (SIB). SIB gave its first concert at Akbank Jazz Festival. At the concert, SIB was joined by names such as Baki Duyarlar, Gücüm Sezer as well as Alfred Menhert from Germany. The second concert took place in the context of the agreement made with Pozitif Ol Group at the hotspot Babylon in İstanbul, where the SIB took the stage with the up and coming reggae group Sattas. SIB concerts will continue every month with the participation of different musicians.
Similar success stories also come from students attending painting workshops. Two students from our painting workshop opened their own studios and took on the identity of a true “artist”. Aside from exhibiting their paintings at their workshops, the students also sell their paintings, participating in the workforce. So far, student exhibitions have been held in institutions such as Doğuş, Otomotion and Vodafone. We continue to receive similar exhibition proposals.
If we were to draw a general overview of socially disadvantaged or disabled youth in Turkey, what kind of difficulties are faced in the process of their integration into society? What kind of a role does the Dreams Academy have in overcoming these barriers?
Unfortunately disabled and socially disadvantaged youth in Turkey do not want to leave their homes. Along with the incompatibility of architecture and city plans or their inability to join the workforce due to lack of education, many of them have self esteem issues due to social impositions.
The Dreams Academy is facilitating numerous activities to change this negative situation. For example, the end-of-term performance parties aim to include individuals in a social life, but also to make venues more accessible.
Before every Dreams Academy activity, the venues are explored beforehand to make the necessary physical changes so that they are permanent. Consequently, disabled individuals do not have second thoughts about revisiting a venue where a Dreams Academy activity took place. This enables them to become a part of social life and be integrated in society.
To develop the self esteem of disabled and socially disadvantaged individuals Dreams Academy started “personal development” workshops in addition to the continuing workshops. This workshop has now been continuing for 3 cycles. At the end of each term, participants set a goal for themselves decide on ways of achieving that goal. At the end of the project they present a project carried out with group work.
How do plan on continuing the success of the first year in the years to come? What kind of plans does the Dreams Academy have for 2010?
In its second year, the Dreams Academy is opening a workshop on the Anatolian side of Istanbul to reach more disabled and socially disadvantaged individuals. Proposals from different provinces for workshops are being reviewed.
Within the Dreams Academy a sign language workshop aiming to create “awareness” comes to the fore this year. Along with disabled and socially disadvantaged individuals this workshop is also open to volunteers, special development enthusiasts and anyone else who may be interested… Applications to the workshop are also very high, such that in January a second sign language workshop opened.
The workshops organized before each SIB concert, also attempt to create awareness. At the workshop in Babylon on January 4 2010 a short introduction of sign language was given and frequently used patterns were shown…
In short, our goal for this year is to reach more disabled and socially disadvantaged individuals, to be able to share these young people’s success with more people and of course to raise awareness of the disability situation.
It could be said that Dreams Academy is an example of bringing together the private sector and NGOs. What advice could you give for other projects in this developing field in Turkey?
It is very important that the projects directed towards disabled and socially disadvantaged youth is sustainable. This is a concept that needs to be regarded both in relation to the project and to individuals. We have ensured the self sustainability of Social Inclusion Band and will observe the same in our other developing projects such as Dreams Academy sub-project Performing Ensemble. At an individual level Dreams Academy has many achievements such as the education it provides. With the education they received at the workshop, we noted that there were students that opened their own galleries, filmed short movies and wrote scenarios. During the project process it is also very important to create awareness in individuals and institutions contacted.
Industrialists have shown significant interest and willingness in engaging traditionally separate industries in a collaborative approach for sustainable resource management, improving resource efficiency and reducing waste where they were introduced to the concept of Industrial Symbiosis at a workshop conducted on the 21 January 2010 at the Haci Sabanci Organized Industrial Zone in Adana. Speaking at the workshop, Peter Laybourn, the director of National Industrial Symbiosis Programme in the UK promoted industrial symbiosis as a pathway to a low carbon and sustainable economy and said that the workshops “are important steps for connecting industry and creating opportunity in the İskenderun Bay Area”.
The workshop resulted in the fruitful discussion of industrialists where input/outputs in terms of material, waste, energy, water, wastewater, environmental management, information management, equipment and logistics were derived and potential synergistic relations were established. The limitations in front of these partnerships were also identified and the solution recommendations were received.
On the second day of the workshops, industrialists came together to discuss the details of a potential industrial symbiosis platform in the region. The model suggestion derived by the “Towards Industrial Symbiosis Programme in Iskenderun Bay Area” Project was shared with the industry representatives; their comments and views towards the model suggestion were received. The model suggestion will be finalized as a result of these comments, before the initiative on the implementation of industrial symbiosis programme starts.
Director of the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme in the UK, Laybourn explained that if an industrial symbiosis platform in the region is initiated it will not only reduce the use of raw materials, CO2 emissions, waste, pollution, transport, risk but also will help to increase profits, utilization of assets, improve learning and innovation of the companies in the region. Laybourn added that this can only be achieved through partnership and long term business culture change.
Industrial symbiosis can mainly be defined as the cooperation between two or more parties, resulting in mutual benefits. There are industrial symbiosis programmes in effect in different parts of the world, namely Denmark, Sweden, USA and the UK where industrial organizations benefit from each other’s natural resources, infrastructure, information and human resources. Launched at the end of 2008, Towards an Industrial Symbiosis Programme in Iskenderun Bay Area is run by the UNDP in partnership with the State Planning Organization, BTC Co. and executed by the Adana Chamber of Industry (ADASO).
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Justice actors including the public prosecutors and judges who have been selected as resource persons and gone through a series of training of trainers programs in the scope of the “Development of Mediation Practice in the Criminal Justice System of Turkey” Project promoted the practice of mediation as a win-win situation for both an effectively functioning judicial system and social peace during the training seminars held in 11-19 January 2010. The referred seminars were held in Ankara, İstanbul, İzmir, Adana, Van, Erzurum, Diyarbakır and Samsun with the participation of 1700 prosecutors and judges from all around Turkey.
In line with the topics included in “Mediation in Criminal Disputes Toolkit” developed in the project framework, different aspects of mediation in criminal justice system of Turkey, including but not limited to the benefits of mediation; the procedures to be followed by the practitioners including the public prosecutors, judges and mediators; offences eligible for mediation and its exceptions; mediation negotiations; legal results of mediation were discussed during the training seminars. Exemplifying the “Butterfly Effect Theory”, the trainers underlined the fact that the practice of mediation would greatly contribute to the decrease of the workload and the effective functioning of the judiciary in the medium and long run. Key messages given to promote this practice included disseminating the notion that mediation is a win-win situation for both the justice system and the public at large, making mediation part of Criminal Justice culture, mediating with the mediation system, taking courageous action to advocate the value of mediation, highlighting the fact that mediation actually resolves conflicts and reduces backlog in the court system.
The training seminars also provided a good opportunity for judicial actors to share the challenges faced during the implementation of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism. Two of the most pressing that were voiced by the participants were related to the shortcomings in the current legislative framework and the lack of incentives provided for the public prosecutors who have processed mediation in their own files. Providing feedback, the practitioners recommended a possible amendment in the current law, which would allow the application of mediation to a wider range of offences and the mediators to be drawn from a wider range of professions. In addition, the proposal for mediation at the law enforcement level was also emphasized as one of the bottlenecks for the effective practice of mediation. These challenges led to the conclusion that the ownership of this new institution by the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) would be a good source of motivation for the practitioners to apply mediation in their own practices.
As the main authorities promoting the institution of mediation in their respective courthouses, judicial actors expressed their satisfaction with the sessions aiming to contribute to an increase in the use of mediation practice in the Turkish Criminal Justice System and knowledge of mediation, amongst judicial professionals. Awareness raising activities on mediation will continue in following months so as to develop a coherent outreach strategy and action plan to increase mediation awareness amongst the practitioners and citizens and also improve cooperation among criminal justice professionals.
Introduction of alternative dispute resolution systems and improvement of restorative justice practices are among the high priority topics of the Government of Turkey to address the generally recognized problems of the Turkish judiciary including the excessive workload of the courts and the longevity of the average duration of judicial proceedings. Expected benefits from alternative dispute resolution systems including Mediation are to reduce the workload of the judiciary and serve rapid, low-cost and effective resolution of civil and criminal disputes as well as possible contribution to social peace. In compliance with this prioritization, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are accepted in Turkish Criminal Law System. Within the scope of these new provisions brought by the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Project for the Development of Practice of Mediation in Criminal Justice System of Turkey. With the Project for the Development of Practice of Mediation in Criminal Justice System of Turkey, UNDP provides support Ministry of Justice regarding the pilot initiatives of restorative justice and mediation in Turkey.
The “Principles for Responsible Investment Turkey Workshop” initiative, co-organized by the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges (FEAS) and the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE), was held at the Istanbul Stock Exchange Conference Hall on Thursday, January 21, 2010. The workshop was organized for Turkish investors to consider opportunities to join the United Nations-backed responsible investment network representing almost US$20 trillion of assets under management. Speaking at the event, Executive Director of PRI Dr. James Gifford said “I hope Turkish investors can join the global conversation about how best environmental, social and corporate governance issues can be integrated into investment decisions.”
In her opening address, UNDP Turkey Deputy Resident Representative Ulrika Richardson-Golinski explained that though the government and civil society are UNDP’s previous traditional partners, the organization now has an established strategy on how to work and partner with the private sector around the world following the launch of the Global Compact and the realisation that the private sector sits on important networks, skills and resources that are vital to development. Highlighting the fact that under the right market conditions, the private sector can alleviate poverty, Golinski added that UNDP works with the private sector to contribute to human development through pro-poor growth and income generation opportunities.
Speakers including Dr. Gürman Tevfik, CEO of Iş Asset Management, Ertunç Tümen, Executive Vice President of Ak Asset Management, Tankut Taner Çelik, General Manager of ING Asset Management, Dr. Melsa Ararat, member of the Faculty of Management at Sabanci University and the director of Corporate Governance Forum of Turkey(CGFT), Xavier Desmadryl HSBC Global Asset Management and Dr. Yılmaz Arguden, Network Representative of Global Compact, Turkey discussed the challenges of factoring in environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues into investment processes with Turkish capital market participants. Attended by nearly 150 participants, mainly from the investment and social compliance reporting community, the event also presented opportunities for the Turkish investment community can both learn from and share their experiences on the principles of responsible investment with global peers.
Although there is a lack of significant empirical evidence at this time on the effects on incorporating ESG issues in investment decision-making, the overall sentiment is that the discussion of these issues in Turkey is an important positive step forward. Thus, the effects of incorporating of ESG issues in the short run on company performance and the role of governments in establishing an international framework to deal with environmental issues were two of the key areas discussed at the event.
At the event, a ceremony took place to commemorate Istanbul Stock Exchange becoming a signatory to the Principles of Responsible Investment under the category of Professional Service Partner. “I am sure, this partnership with UNPRI will be mutually beneficial in not only creating awareness of the environmental, social and corporate concepts, but also for fostering investors’ understanding of these key issues’’ noted Hüseyin Erkan, Chairman and CEO of the Istanbul Stock Exchange and President of FEAS. The Istanbul Stock Exchange’s decision to sign the UNPRI is an important step forward for Turkey who continues to attract significant investments and sheds light on the growing importance of environmental, social and governance issues.
Until recently the role of the financial markets and the private sector in sustainable development was little understood and widely discounted. Established as a framework to help investors achieve better long-term investment returns and sustainable markets, the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) have helped to change this impression. The voluntary and highly influential Principles have been a set of global best-practices for responsible investment providing a menu of possible actions for incorporating ESG issues into mainstream investment decision making and ownership practice since their launch in 2006 by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and the UN Global Compact (UNGC). Embraced by a rising numbers of institutional investors, the PRI marks a major advance in mainstream financial markets.
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