7 January 2022 – by Deniz Saygi
As a water-stressed country, Turkey has faced severe droughts since the 1980s on account of the combination of overpopulation, unplanned urbanization, industrialisation, climate change and global warming. The water in the dams supplying the major cities of Turkey has been reduced since there is no rainfall.
Istanbul, a prominent centre of trade and commerce of Turkey, is experiencing critically low levels of water. The megacity is at the risk of running out of water in the next few months, according to the report by the UCTEA Chamber Of Chemical Engineers. Consequently, Turkey’s most populous city is experiencing the lowest level of water in 15 years, and this situation raised fears of a persistent drought.
Not only Istanbul, but also Turkey’s major cities are facing water scarcity too: For example, Izmir and Bursa are struggling with dams that are at the risk of scarcity due to the poor rainfall. Moreover, farmers – especially from the Konya plain and Edirne province – are warning of increasing crop failures and food shortages because of the prolonged lack of rainfall by reason of climate change. Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, also has been going through the most severe period of drought in recent years. Citizens of Ankara has been warned about the lack of rainfall could cause a significant water shortage in the near future.Â
According to the report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 60 per cent of Turkey’s land area is prone to desertification. The report also underlines the Mediterranean Basin as one of the world’s climate hotspots that occurred due to climate change and global warming. Under these circumstances, the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey will most likely become progressively drier and drastically warmer if necessary measurements are not taken.Â
P.S. I would like to thank Mr. Mert Kocal for his contributions to this article.
