WHEN A SPECIES VANISHES, THE WORLD DIMINISHES: THE SILENT CRY OF BIODIVERSITY
Is the seemingly perfect order of nature not, in fact, an ingenious balance resulting from millions of years of evolution, rather than a mere coincidence?
Every living species on the planet makes life possible through an invisible collaboration. While Posidonia, algae, and mosses in the seas provide the air we breathe, bees and other pollinators guarantee the continuity of plant life. Forests trigger precipitation cycles, plants grip the earth to prevent erosion, and coastal ecosystems buffer the intensity of storms. We owe this entire complex web of relationships to biodiversity. The extinction of even the smallest species signifies a broken link in this chain—a disruption in the cosmic order. In nature, no species is "superfluous"; each has its own role in upholding the grand totality of life. While humanity emerged as a part of this diversity, over time, it has transformed into an entity that detaches itself from nature, even attempting to dominate it. With advancing technology, man has created new worlds and has now reached a point of building habitats even within virtual realities.
However, this "creative destruction" by humans brings an unprecedented pressure upon nature. Fossil fuel consumption, uncontrolled urbanization, waves of industrialization, population growth, and the accompanying culture of consumption and waste are increasingly straining the planet's carrying capacity. In the last 50 years, the global economy has quadrupled, the human population has doubled, and world trade has increased tenfold. While the agricultural sector leads in freshwater consumption, pesticides and chemicals pollute water resources and reduce soil fertility; industrial fishing depletes fish stocks, rising temperatures destroy seagrass meadows, and wildfires turn forests into ash. Today, it is undeniable that the two greatest threats of our era are the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity. While climate change destroys natural habitats, it causes the loss of species that cannot adapt. In turn, the loss of species weakens ecosystems and reduces climate resilience.
Today, 6 out of the 9 "planetary boundaries" identified by experts to ensure a safe living space for humanity have already been breached.
Time is running out, and the crisis deepens with each passing day. Yet, the solution lies in the same place: within the magnificent balance of nature. Understanding, protecting, and living in harmony with this order is not merely an environmental responsibility; it is humanity's struggle to secure its own future. It is time to act before it is too late....
Written by: Irmak Nural USKD - Board Member
CLIMATE LAW AND THE AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 14: A NEW ERA IN GREENHOUSE GAS MANAGEMENT IN TÜRKİYE
Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change: Why Does It Matter?Greenhouse gases are gases that accumulate in the atmosphere and trap the Earth's natural heat. Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases are the most well-known greenhouse gases. These gases trap a portion of the energy from the sun, causing the planet's surface to warm. This natural process is called the "greenhouse effect" and ensures the Earth maintains a habitable temperature. However, human activities—especially fossil fuel use, industrial production, deforestation, and transportation—have rapidly increased the volume of these gases. This disruption of the natural balance leads to climate change, which brings serious consequences such as rising temperatures, sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and ecosystem degradation.
Climate Law in Türkiye: Adoption and ObjectivesTürkiye’s Climate Law (Law No. 7552) was adopted by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) on July 2, 2025, and entered into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette on July 9, 2025. This law establishes the fundamental legal framework for combating climate change and fostering green transformation in line with Türkiye’s net-zero emission targets. The law mandates that businesses and organizations measure, report, and set reduction targets for their greenhouse gas emissions.
Article 14: Amendment and 2026 PenaltiesArticle 14 of the Law contains critical regulations regarding administrative sanctions and fines. The penalties stipulated in this article have been updated for 2026 based on the revaluation rate and became effective as of January 1, 2026.
Summary of Penalties:The fine in paragraph one, subparagraph (a), has increased from 500,000 – 5,000,000 TRY to 627,450 – 6,274,500 TRY.Penalties for the second and third paragraphs range between 150,000 and 3,137,250 TRY.According to paragraph four, subparagraph (b)(1), a penalty of 6.2745 TRY will be applied per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emission.The penalty under the eleventh paragraph cannot exceed the maximum limit explicitly stated in the law, which is 50,000,000 TRY. Although nominal figures appear higher in 2026 due to revaluation, the statutory 50 million TRY cap remains in effect in practice.
These penalties apply to businesses that fail to comply with the law, particularly in areas such as greenhouse gas emission reporting, ETS (Emission Trading System) obligations, and unauthorized activities.
International ComparisonThese regulations in Türkiye converge with similar emission control mechanisms implemented in European Union countries and several Asian nations, aligning with international climate policies. For instance, mechanisms like the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) use economic incentives to encourage businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The amendment to Article 14 in Türkiye aims to establish a similar mechanism of compliance and discipline.
ConclusionThe new penalties, effective as of January 1, 2026, will make greenhouse gas management in Türkiye more efficient, encourage businesses to take responsibility, and represent a strong step in the fight against climate change. As USKD, we invite our members and all relevant organizations to be aware of these changes and ensure compliance.
Written by: Muzaffer Sevgi SAKARYA
THE IMPACT OF INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS ON MICRO-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
While the perception of sustainability is generally associated with global-scale systems—such as energy networks, food chains, waste management, and carbon cycle performance—an increasingly prominent approach in scientific literature argues that the micro-ecological impacts of an individual’s daily behaviors must be discussed. In this context, an individual's sustainability practice can be viewed as the "behavioral parameter" at the foundational layer of large-scale models. Every behavioral pattern exhibited during daily life (duration and areas of water usage, consumption habits, electricity usage practices and reflexes, contributions to recycling, digital carbon footprint, etc.) essentially constitutes a micro-input. While these inputs may seem negligible on an individual level, they create a cumulative effect from a systemic perspective.
The distinguishing aspect of an individual-specific sustainability model is its correlation with a high "attention threshold" and awareness during the decision-making process. In other words, what determines behavioral choice is not necessity, but a cognition-based mechanism. In environmental science, this mechanism is referred to as the behavioral environmental feedback loop. An individual’s understanding of sustainability—their response to the environment—depends on a level of consciousness interconnected with the environmental system. Furthermore, these behavioral patterns formed at the individual level create an effect of "local stability" within ecological systems. In terms of sustainability, small-scale but consistently repeated individual behaviors can yield significant impacts on local mechanisms. (For instance: a regular reduction in waste minimally affects regional waste volume but contributes to the softening of the local carbon emission curve.) Consequently, the individual sustainability approach is a sub-scale, behavior-based, and self-operating form of ecological regulation; it transforms the individual from a passive element of global problems into an independent, dynamic, and systemic actor.
Written by: Atty. Özgür KOZANOĞLU ÖZGE
OCTOBER 29: REPUBLIC DAY The Sustainable Legacy of the Republic
When the Republic of Türkiye was proclaimed on October 29, 1923, as a nation rose from its ashes, it was not merely the declaration of a form of government, but the dawn of a profound social transformation. The Republic laid the foundation for modernization, equal opportunity in education, enlightenment, and social justice. Today, reinterpreting this legacy through the lens of sustainability not only builds a strong bridge between the past and the future but also demonstrates how a nation—and indeed the world—can determine its own destiny under the guidance of reason.
"The truest guide in life is science." Is this mantra of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk not the fundamental principle of a sustainable future, rather than just a reflection of a single era?
Today, the world faces numerous trials and conflicts, from the climate crisis and energy transition to income inequality and social injustice. Upon closer inspection, we can see that every step taken in the early years of the Republic pioneered sustainable development. Educational mobilizations, domestic industrial initiatives, and the inclusion of women in all spheres of life formed the building blocks of a sustainable society. We can recognize that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals were embraced by our Republic decades ago through the principles of science-based development, social equity, quality education, and gender equality.
Atatürk's vision is an early example of the "human-centered" approach that constitutes the essence of sustainable development. However, centering humans is not a movement against nature; it is certainly not the immoderate consumption or reckless exploitation of nature by man. The goal is to establish a sustainable harmony between human and nature. Within the framework of a "nature-compatible" vision of modernization, the Atatürk Forest Farm (Atatürk Orman Çiftliği) was designed not just as an agricultural area, but as a symbol of "producing while protecting nature." In Atatürk’s world, nature was not a resource to be consumed, but a living space and a value entrusted to the future. One of the most elegant examples of this mindset was moving an entire building to avoid cutting down a single tree during the establishment of the farm.
The revolutionary spirit of Atatürk at the founding of the Republic did more than just break the chains of the past; it instilled the courage to change in future generations. Today, showing that same courage in areas such as combating the climate crisis, transitioning to green energy, and ensuring social equality is the way to be worthy of that legacy. Because sustainability is the very desire for progress at the heart of the Republic... The Republic is sustainability itself!
October 29 is not just a date; it is the celebration of renewal, questioning, and the will to build something better. Atatürk's words, "My humble body will surely turn to dust one day, but the Republic of Türkiye will stand forever," represent the essence of this sustainable heritage. Leaving a livable world for future generations is the most noble duty of the Republic.
The Republic is a journey of hope, advancing under the guidance of reason, science, respect for nature, and conscience. And that hope sprouts anew every October 29....
Written by: Irmak Nural USKD - Board Member