UNIVERSITY STUDENTS GATHER IN ESKİŞEHİR FOR THE EU–YOUTH CLIMATE FORUM

The Eskişehir EU Information Center organized events and workshops to educate university students in Eskişehir and neighboring provinces about climate change.

In collaboration with the Eskişehir EU Information Center and the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Youth Center, the EU–Turkey Youth Climate Forum was held. The event took place on November 12 at the Vehbi Koç Congress Center as part of European Climate Diplomacy Week, featuring seminars and workshops throughout the day. University students from Eskişehir and surrounding areas participated in the forum.

In the opening of the forum, Prof. Dr. Nezih Orhon, a faculty member of Anadolu University’s Faculty of Communication Sciences and an EU Climate Agreement Ambassador, emphasized that climate change affects the future of the entire world. He noted that there are ongoing efforts within the EU to combat climate change and stressed that taking preventive measures now could change the trajectory of this adverse trend.

Experts Shared Their Research on Climate Change

Prof. Dr. Cengiz Türe from Eskişehir Technical University provided information about the factors contributing to climate change. He highlighted that climate change concerns all humanity and nations, explaining the responsibilities individuals have in mitigating its effects. Prof. Dr. Levent Kurnaz, Director of the Climate Change and Policies Research Center at Boğaziçi University, shared the center's ongoing projects. He pointed out that the center conducts research on climate change both in Turkey and the surrounding region, working to implement those findings. Kurnaz discussed studies on renewable energy, emissions, adaptation in agriculture, and extreme climate events, as well as solutions to these issues.

Youth Shared Ideas in Workshops

The forum included several workshops moderated by experts, focusing on various themes such as Climate and Advocacy, Climate and Urban Development, Climate and Gender Equality, and Climate and Responsible Production & Consumption. In addition, a documentary film highlighting water scarcity was screened, followed by a discussion. The EU–Turkey Youth Climate Forum concluded with a mini concert, celebrating the engagement and contributions of the youth in addressing climate issues.