IKV İstanbul EU Information Centre, in collaboration with the EU Delegation to Türkiye and Kadıköy Municipality, held an EU Beach Cleanup event on 1 November 2025, at Caddebostan Beach. The opening speeches of the programme were delivered by IKV Deputy Secretary General M. Gökhan Kilit and Deputy Mayor of Kadıköy Soydan Alkan. The event, organised worldwide as part of EU Climate Diplomacy Week, aimed to raise awareness and sensitivity among young people on climate change, environmental pollution and waste separation. Participants, including representatives from the consulates and missions of EU member states in İstanbul, university students, and members of civil society organisations, came together to contribute to raising environmental awareness and helping to clean up the beaches.

In his speech, IKV Deputy Secretary General M. Gökhan Kilit stated that they had gathered to clean up waste on Kadıköy Caddebostan Beach as part of the EU Beach Cleanup campaign, adding that protecting the seas was possible through concrete steps. Deputy Secretary General Kilit stated that marine and coastal pollution has become a global problem affecting the entire ecosystem and environment, emphasising that millions of tonnes of waste accumulating in seas and oceans cause problems in terms of the environment, economy, health and aesthetics. Deputy Secretary General Kilit said that 85% of marine pollution worldwide consists of plastic waste and stated that combating marine litter and coastal pollution is a priority on the agenda of all countries, particularly the EU. Stating that every contribution makes a difference and that change begins with awareness, Deputy Secretary General Kilit thanked all the volunteers who participated in this global movement, which involved thousands of people across Europe.

Deputy Mayor of Kadıköy Soydan Alkan stated in his speech that Kadıköy Municipality has been working towards a “Zero Waste” vision for a long time, adding that they collect recyclable waste door-to-door in Kadıköy.  Deputy Mayor Alkan also stated that they have established a systematic waste separation system with 334 recycling bins, 393 glass bins, 182 waste battery boxes and waste medicine boxes in every family health centre, thereby ensuring systematic waste separation. Deputy Mayor Alkan emphasised that residents of Kadıköy can deliver all kinds of waste from their homes to the Class 1 Waste Collection Centre, thereby preventing approximately 5,000 tonnes of waste from going to landfill each year and contributing to the economy.

The EU Beach Cleanup campaign aims to raise awareness about marine pollution and how our habits affect our oceans. It is estimated that up to 37 million tonnes of plastic waste will reach the oceans annually by 2040. It is jointly run by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the United Nations. Clean-up efforts play an important role in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by addressing environmental degradation, promoting sustainable consumption and production, protecting biodiversity, improving public health, and encouraging community participation and cooperation.