TOGETHER TOWARDS CLEAN AIR IN ESKIŞEHIR AND ISKENDERUN, TURKEY: An Example for Other Asian Cities?

Abstract:

Just like in many Asian countries, in Turkey the large cities and cities nearby large industrial areas are suffering from increasing levels of air pollution. Reasons are the rapid economic development and urbanization, causing strong increase in energy consumption and air pollution, that so far has not been balanced sufficiently by environmental policy. In order to achieve a better air quality according sustainable development principles, a balance is needed between people, planet and profit.

This paper describes the concept and experiences of the ongoing 3-year Dutch-Turkish cooperation project in Turkey, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Matra-program). This project aims to support the local environmental authorities in Eskisehir and Iskenderun, together with civil society, to improve local air quality, based on the principles of sustainable development.
The main project activities are:
1. strengthening the capability of local and provincial authorities in the field of air quality management;
2. establishing communication platforms on air quality between stakeholders and authorities;
3. improving knowledge on the negative effect of air pollution on human health, by air pollution monitoring (using simple equipments), health questionnaires and lung function testing at 4,000 primary school children;
4. awareness raising (films, education, website, newsletter);
5. technical industrial pilot projects, demonstrating win-win solutions for reducing air pollution emissions, saving energy and raw materials, and therefore money.

As the project is following an integrated approach, intensively informing and involving both universities (science), local, regional and national authorities, both industrial ánd environmental organizations, schools and general public, this might be an useful concept how air quality can be improved in a sustainable way in other parts of Asia.