Overview

The world has changed radically in the last two decades socially, economically and environmentally. Global population has grown by more than 1.7 billion, from about 5 billion people. The global economy has expanded and now characterized by increasing globalization. Worldwide GDP per capita has increased from US$ 5,927 in 1987 to US$ 8,162 in 2004. However, growth has been distributed unequally between regions. Global trade has increased during the past 20 years, stimulated by globalization. Political changes have also been extensive. Human population and economic growth has increased demand and pressure on natural resources. Unsustainable use of natural resources including land, water, forests and fisheries, can threaten individual livelihoods as well as local, national and international economies.

Environmental sustainability, Millenium Development Goal 7, is critical to the attainment of the other MDG goals. Natural resources are the basis of subsistence in many poor communities. In fact, natural capital accounts for 26% of the wealth of low-income countries. Up to 20 % of the total burden of disease in developing countries is associated with environmental risks. Poor women are particularly vulnarable to respiratory infections related to indoor air pollution. Acute respiratory infections are leading cuase of death in children, with pneumonia killing more children under the age of five than any other illness. A combination of unsafe water and poor sanitation is the world’s second biggest killer of children. About 1.8 million children die annualy and about 443 million school days are missed due to diarrhoea. Sustainable management of natural resources contributes to poverty alleviation, helps reduce diseases and child mortality, improves maternal health, and contribute to gender equity and universal education.
Source: Global Environment Outlook, GEO4, Environment for Development, UNEP, 2007

What is Environment & Sustainable Development?

Respect for nature is one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the 21st century and duly noted in the United Nations Millennium Declaration. Accordingly, no effort must be spared to free all of humanity, and above all our children and grandchildren, from the threat of living on a planet irredeemably spoilt by human activities, and whose resources would no longer be sufficient for their needs. The Millennium Declaration reaffirms support for the principles of sustainable development, including those set out in Agenda 21, agreed upon at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and expresses the resolution to adopt in all our environmental actions a new ethic of conservation and stewardship.

The Millennium Development Goals approved in 2000 as part of the United Nations’ Secretary-General’s Road Map towards implementing the Millennium Declaration, give a clear place also to the protection of the environment and the rational use of natural resources. The Millennium Development Goals constitute the main focus of all UNDP activities. Accordingly, “energy and environment” is implemented as one of five practice areas in UNDP.

As one of eight Millennium Development Goals, ensuring environmental sustainability (Goal 7) is to be achieved strategically by integrating the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes (“environmental mainstreaming”) and by reversing the loss of environmental resources. The MDG 7 also targets, specifically, by 2010, to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss; to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water; and by 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.

UNDP: Helping Turkey to Protect its Environment and Support Sustainable Development

Turkey's vulnerable eco-system has been placed under increasing stress by high population growth, rising incomes and energy consumption. An additional stress factor is intense development activity resulting from growing urbanisation and booming tourism. According to the projections carried out by the UNFCCC, Turkey that lies within the Mediterranean Basin is situated in regions highly vulnerable to climate change. As sustainable development has become a worldwide concern, it has also gradually been reflected in Turkey's policy debates. Since 1991, Turkey's five year development plans have included environmental strategies

UNDP will work in partnership with the government to support new initiatives to promote the integration of sustainable development principles into national and regional development planning in line with the 6th Environmental Action Plan of the EU. UNDP will also continue and increase its support to the National Commission on Sustainable Development, as requested, for improved coordination of the elaboration of the National Implementation Plan for Sustainable Development, as well as the implementation of sustainable development principles at the community level. UNDP’s involvement to date in environmental governance and sustainable development has focused on improving the capacity of authorities to plan and implement integrated approaches to environmental and energy development. In this context UNDP has provided support to the Turkish government in its efforts for the integration of global environmental concerns (such as climate change and loss of biodiversity) and commitments into national and regional planning.

UNDP will provide technical expertise on water-related issues, and giving guidance related to implementing regional initiatives on water. Recognizing the significant challenges related to water UNDP has committed to identifying and supporting solutions to these challenges on regional level in collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company. UNDP will provide communities to enjoy improved access to safe drinking water and initiatives that promote sustainable use of water for industrial and domestic purposes in an environment highly aware about responsible water use as a natural resource.

Through collaboration with national, international, governmental, NGOs, academia and private sector partners, UNDP will continue to support national efforts to sustain biodiversity, promote energy efficiency and natural resources’ conservation. Through its support UNDP will work with governmental and NGO partners to increase their capacity for sustainable management of agriculture, fisheries, forests, and energy for a pro-poor approach to conservation.

Notably, UNDP will support the Coordination Board on Climate Change and the National Commission on Sustainable Development by strengthening national and local capacities to formulate and implement strategies to address risks related to climate and unsustainable development. The UNDP works with governmental organiations to build their capacities to address climate change and plays an active role, working with government, NGOs and the private sector to support now and post-2012. UNDP supports Turkey’s effective engagement in the international climate change policy dialogue and in establishing necessary structure to benefit from emission trading through flexible mechanism of Kyoto Protocol, including Voluntary Carbon Markets.

Who are our partners?

In several projects, UNDP works closely with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Ministry of Transport, Ministry os Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Trade, State Planning Organization, General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, General Directorate of Electrical Power Resources Survey and Development Administration etc. and several Municipalities to integrate environmental concerns into development policies and programmes and supports capacity building for carbon trading; the preparation of a national climate change action plan; industrial symbiosis initiative, biodiversity for forestry and marine protected areas. UNDP also works in collaboration with NGOs, academia and private sector.

Priority areas for Environmental and Sustainable Development Programme

1. Sustainable Development

2. Water Governance

3. Energy

4. Land Management

5. Biodiversity

6. Chemicals

7. Climate Change

Trust Funds and Centres