Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer addressed participant states of the 27th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) held in Sharm El Sheikh City of Egypt. Özer briefed participants about activities and projects of his Ministry about Climate Change and Environment and future plans in his video message.

 

Minister Özer began his speech by reminding the UN report which stated that the global temperature will increase by one and a half degrees until 2030 as a result of climate change.

 

"Our most important duty is to decrease this hazard which poses a risk against human life and nature, protect future generations and leave a clean world to them," said Özer, "Being aware of this fact and responsibility, the Ministry of National Education has been continuously working in order to provide a cleaner, greener and healthier environment for our students who are the guarantee of our future."

  

Özer stated that they have been working in an effort to raise environmental awareness of our students in all levels of education varying from preschool to high school in Türkiye, adding that, "We carry out campaigns which aim at making contribution to develop sensitivity about waste and saving and establish skills and correct behaviors among students. The Zero Waste Project initiated by our Ministry under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan is based on encouraging students to adopt a zero waste approach and to live in a sustainable environment."

 

Özer went on to say that: "We have awarded 29 thousand and 400 schools with Zero Waste Certificates, we have founded libraries by using recycled materials in 1,325 schools and 9 million students attended zero waste training programs. We teach students environmental awareness by practicing in the schools we have constructed as a part of the Environmentally Friendly 1.000 Schools Project. Within this framework, we have installed solar energy plants at the roofs or gardens of schools in order to reduce energy and water consumption and produce renewable energy and rainwater collection systems for irrigating school gardens."

 

Özer mentioned activities carried out in order to raise awareness of younger generations about the issue as a part of Türkiye's fight against climate change and went on to say that, "we include environmental education and climate change programs in the education program of secondary schools. This aims at increasing the ecological literacy skills of our students. We are planning to take a step forward with our Climate Change Action Plan."

 

"As a part of mentioned action plan, education program of all kinds and levels of education will be adapted to the environmental and climate change issues in line with the sustainable development," said Özer and shared following information:

 

"We will prepare an inventory that makes an assessment about the compatibility of education programs and training materials with environment and climate change policies. We will update text books according to this inventory. A livable world is based on education. Together we will lay the foundation of a happier and more livable world by carrying out global campaigns about climate change. Our country always focuses on this issue and we will continue to do so in the future. I would like to thank and convey my respects to all participants of this session."