In a statement issued following the forest fires in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions, indicating that those have deeply affected all nations, IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu said that the frequency and intensity of fires and similar natural disasters were exacerbated by the negative effects of climate change. Stating that a supranational arrangement to address wildfires was essential, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu said the following:

“Both national statistics and the data collected under the EU’s Copernicus Programme reveal that there is a rapid increase in the course of extreme natural events. These events, which have intensified due to the impact of climate change, manifest themselves as extreme temperatures, excessive drought, and a decrease in precipitation in the Mediterranean. As a result, coupled with the negative effect of urbanisation, wildfires, and floods resulting from sudden rainfalls are more likely to occur. Regional countries which share a common fate could unite and form an emergency task force to be used to provide support in case of natural disasters in the Mediterranean.”

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu stated that Turkey was already part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and in this context, Turkey could benefit from the rescEU support pool which could be used in emergencies:

“Due to the rapid spread of wildfires affecting residential areas, Turkey requested assistance under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and Croatia and Spain provided support by sending their firefighting planes. Turkey cooperates with the EU both by participating in this mechanism and through the use of EU’s land and climate monitoring data within the scope of the Copernicus Programme. However, the creation of a task force and an organisational arrangement for responding to extreme natural events and disasters caused by climate change in the region, paying particular attention to the challenges faced by Mediterranean countries, will undoubtedly provide a stronger response capacity. Furthermore, the establishment of an arrangement where Mediterranean countries could discuss their common problems and come up with solutions, would result in a common structure where countries could act together not only on disasters relating to climate change, but also on other cross-border issues such as migration. As IKV, we present this proposal to the public”.